L 


The  Engineering  Experiment 

Station  and  Its  Relation 

to  Illinois  Industries 


By  L.  P.  BRECKENRIDGE 

M.  W.  S.  E. 


Reprint  from  Journal  Western  Society  Engineers 
August,  1909 


THE  ENGINEERING  EXPERIMENT  STATION  AND  ITS  RELATION 
TO  ILLINOIS  INDUSTRIES. 

L.  P.  .Bkeckenkiih.k,  m.w.s.i:. 

Presented  May  5,   ipop. 

The  State  of  Illinois  is  most  advaiUagcoubly  situated  in  relation 
to  the  continually  increasing  industrial  activities  of  the  Middle  West. 
The  wonderful  fertility  of  its  soil  has  made  it  for  many  years  fore- 
most in  the  wealth  of  agricultural  products.  The  climate  and  rain- 
fall have  favored  the  production  of  immense  crops  of  corn,  wheat 
and  oats,  and  fully  75  per  cent  of  its  great  area  (56,650  sq.  mi.)  has 
been  prepared  for  cultivation. 

Its  fuel  supplies  are  enormous,  its  yearly  product  is  next  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  amount  and  it  probably  has  within  its  borders  today  more 
bituminous  coal  of  usable  grades  than  has  any  other  state.  It  is  not 
strange  that  to  these  fertile  fields  came  many  settlers.  It  is  not 
strange  that  on  the  edge  of  its  Great  Lake  was  planted  its  now  great 
city.  After  people  come,  transportation  is  provided,  then  manufac- 
turers follow  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  people.  Then  more  people 
come  to  distribute  the  products  of  farm  and  factory,  wealth  accumu- 
lates, and  still  more  factories  are  built  to  supply  luxuries  as  well  as 
needs.  State  and  municipal  institutions  spring  up  and  multiply. 
Provision  is  made  for  the  penal,  charitable  and  educational  needs  of 
state  and  city.  What  seemed  large  provision  soon  becomes  inade- 
quate and  the  work  of  a  few  years  ago  must  be  torn  down  and  in  its 
place  must  be  put  up  again  a  new  and  larger  and  more  modern  struc- 
ture. The  stores  and  bank  and  the  library  are  all  soon  too  small  and 
must  be  built  anew.  So  it  has  been  with  Illinois,  so  it  is  now  with 
Illinois.  A  great  agricultural,  a  great  mining,  a  great  manufactur- 
ing, a  great  commercial,  and  a  great  transportation  State,  teeming 
with  a  vigorous,  wide  awake,  progressive  population  surpassed  in 
numbers  only  by  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  and  surpassed  in  op- 
portunities and  energy  by  none. 

The  story  of  the  growth  and  development  of  the  industries  of 
Illinois  is  most  interesting.  The  growth  has  been  rapid  and  natural. 
It  has  not  been  held  back  by  any  natural  barriers  and  progress  has 
been  easy  compared  with  that  of  some  of  the  states  earlier  settled. 
There  are  a  few  significant  facts  which  should  be  continually  before 
the  citizens  of  Illinois.  These  facts  should  make  them  feel  the  possi- 
bility of  accomplishing  great  undertakings,  and  should  impress  upon 
them  the  responsibilities  which  their  wealth,  their  position  and  their 
opportunities  impose.  To  some  of  these  interesting  facts  your  atten- 
tion is  directed  under  the  heading  of 


2  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

Illinois — A  Great  Industrial  State. 

(a)  The  population  of  Illinois  is  about  5,500,000,  which  is  ap- 
proximately 1-14  of  the  population  of  the  United  States.  Exceeded 
in  population  only  by  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

(b)  Illinois  stands  second  in  the  value  of  its  agricultural  prod- 
ucts, for  1908  the  value  being  about $550,000,000 

(c)  Illinois  stands  third  in  the  value  of  its  manufactured  prod- 
ucts, for  1908  the  value  being $1,600,000,000 

(d)  Illinois  stands  second  in  tons  of  coal  produced,  the  value  of 
product  for  1908  being  about  (51,000,000  tons) $54,000,000 

(e)  Illinois  stands  second  in  barrels  of  oil  produced,  the  value 
of  this  product  for  1908  being  about  (40,000,000  Bbls.)  .$24,800,000 

(f)  Illinois  stands  second  in  miles  of  steam  railroad,  the  num- 
ber of  miles  in  1906  being  about 12,000 

(g)  The  value  of  the  mineral  products  of  Illinois  has  increased 
65%  since  1905.  For  1908,  which  included  coal  and  oil,  the  value 
was  about $150,000,000 

(h)     The  capital  invested  in  the  thirteen  leading  industries  in 

Illinois  is  ( 1906)   $600,000,000 

In  the  remaining  industries 375,000,000 

Making  a  grand  total  of $975,000,000 

This  amount  is  now  (1909)  estimated  at  about $1,200,000,000 

The  Development  of  Illinois  Industries — By  the  charts  and  dia- 
grams which  accompany  this  article  it  is  intended  to  point  out  the 
possibility  of  the  great  industrial  growth  of  the  United  States  and 
to  show  how  rapid  has  been  the  development  of  Illinois  as  a  manu- 
facturing state.  The  population  of  the  world,  Fig.  i,  gives  promise 
of  a  market  for  the  products  of  our  farms  and  factories  if  only  we 
are  prepared  to  send  them  where  needed.  The  citizens  of  Illinois 
gave  evidence  that  they  were  awake  to  the  future  possibilities  of  a 
foreign  market  for  Illinois  products  when  they  voted  iii  favor  of 
the  next  step  in  water  transportation  which  must  finally  end  in  a 
waterway  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf. 

Illinois,  now  third  in  population  (Fig.  2),  is  advancing  rapidly 
and  it  will  only  be  by  taking  thought  for  tomorrow  that  the  future  of 
her  interests  will  be  conserved.  What  will  be  the  population  of 
Illinois  in  1950?  Perhaps  ten  millions;  the  chart.  Fig.  3,  makes 
promise  of  that  figure.  And  Chicago  at  that  date, — will  it  still  be 
40%  of  the  State's  total,  and  reach  four  millions?  If  so  there  are 
many  things  to  be  done  in  the  State  and  city  in  the  next  forty  years 
and  it  is  none  too  soon  to  start  on  many  of  them. 

When  we  see  what  is  the  distribution  of  wage  earners.  Figs.  4  and 
5,  among  the  leading  pursuits,  it  is  not  surprising  that  so  much  at- 
tention has  been  and  will  be  given  to  those  things  that  pertain  to 
agriculture  and  to  engineering.  In  Illinois,  one  quarter  of  the  wage 
earners  are  engaged  in  agriculture  while  nearly  one  half  are  engaged 


Brccki'nridge — En^iinccrwi;  lixf>criment  Station  8 

in  pursuits  directly  related  to  eiigineerinj^,  such  as  manufacturing, 
transportation  and  mining.  This  nation  has  made  such  great  prog- 
ress because,  above  all  things,  it  has  found  near  at  hand,  forests, 
food  and  fuel.    It  has  been  extravagant  in  the  use  of  all.    Its  forests 


CHART  SHOWING 
NUMBER  AND  DENSITY 


POPULATION 

OF  THE 

WORLD 

1806 

GROUPED   BY   fiATIONS 


ALL  OTHER        -<«^^. 
NATIONS 


0£flijr*     01     POPutATIQfi 


FIG.    I. — POPULATION  OF  THE  WORLD 


have  rapidly  disappeared ;  its  land  which  once  raised  food  is  nov^  un- 
productive ;  its  fuel  will  last  perhaps  6oo  years ;  it  has  apparently 
begun  to  think  about  these  things ;  it  will  save  and  renew  some  for- 
ests ;  it  can  preserve  the  fertility  of  its  soil  and  fortunately  here  in 
Illinois  that  problem  is  well  in  hand  and  the  methods  for  doing  it 


Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 


are  available  in  the  investigations  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station.  It  can  economize  in  the  use  of  its  fuels,  it  is  doing  so  in  all 
the  great  plants  that  manufacture  light  and  power.  Not  more  than 
one  half  as  much  coal  is  used  to  produce  one  horse-power  today  as 

MILLIONS 


23456789  10 


NEW  YORK 

PENNSYLVANIA 

ILLINOIS 

OHIO 

MISSOURI 

TEXAS 

MASSACHUSETTS 

INDIANA 

MICHIGAN 

IOWA 

GEORGIA 

KENTUCKY 

WISCONSIN 

TENNESSEE 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

NEW    JERSEY 

VIRGINIA 

ALABAMA 

MINNESOTA 

MISSISSIPPI 

CALIFORNIA 

KANSAS 

LOUISIANA 

SOUTH    CAROLINA 

ARKANSAS 

MARYLAND 

NEBRASKA  ■ 

WEST  VIRGINIA         ■ 

CONNECTICUT  ■ 

MAINE  B 

COLORADO  Bi 

Florida  ■ 

washington  — 

RHODE  ISLAND  h 

OREGON  m 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  ■ 

SOUTH  DAKOTA  ■ 

OKLAHOMA  ■ 
INDIAN  TERRITORY" 

VERMONT  ■ 

NORTH   DAKOTA  - 

DIST.  OF  COLUMBIA  - 

UTAH  ■ 

MONTANA  ■ 

NEW   MEXICO  ■ 

DELAWARE  ■ 

IDAHO  ■ 

HAWAII  ■ 

ARIZONA  ■ 

WYOMING  ■ 

ALASKA  I 

NEVADA  I 


FIG.    2. — POPULATION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

was  used  thirty  years  ago.  But  fuel  must  be  burned  to  produce  most 
of  our  power  (Fig.  6)  for  many  years  to  come.  Harness  the  water 
whenever  you  can,  but  three  quarters  of  the  power  produced  in  the 
United  States  at  the  end  of  the  next  forty  years  will  be  produced 
by  burning  coal.     Fortunately  Illinois  has  much  coal.     It  is  cheaply 


POPULATION 

CHART 
UNITED  STATES 

1900 


Hi  t'ckcnndf^r     J:ii);inri-t  iii)^  li.x  f^t'tinirnt  Staliott  .'» 

mined,  and  in  lar^c  plants,  loraU'd  near  i)lciity  of  condensing  water, 
power  can  be  produced  as  clieaply  in  Illinois  as  it  is  now  produced 
at  the  brink  of  Niag^ara  Falls.     P.ut  industries  prosper,  because  in 

CHART 
SHOWING  POPULATION 

OF 

ILLINOIS  AND  CHICAGO 


z 
o 

-I 

D 
Q. 
O 
Q. 

U. 
O 

0) 

z 
o 

-I 
Z 


8 

II  1  iKiniQ 

CHICAGO 

7 

6 

t 

5 

/ 

/ 

4 

/ 

/ 

3 

i 

/ 

/ 

2 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

1 

/ 

/ 

1 

i 

/ 

f — 

/ 

n 

1 — ■ 

^^ 

y 



-- 

^ 

1800 


1850 


r900 


1950 


YEARS 

FIG.  3. — POPULATION  OF  ILLINOIS  AND  CHICAGO 


America  we  use  power  for  our  labor  and  we  make  steam  and  elec- 
tricity do  a  rapidly  increasing  part  of  the  work.     In  some  states  it 


Breckenridge — Engineerinf:  Experiment  Station 

WAGE     EARNERS 
UNITED     STATES  — I900 


MiL.L.IONS 
A.  6 


N       AGRICULTURE, 


IN    MANUFACTURING,     MECHANIC    PURSUITS 


AND    TRANSPORTATION. 


IN    ALL.    OTHER     OCCUPATIONS. 

FIG.  4. — DISTRIBUTION  OF  WAGE-EARNERS  IN  UNITED  STATES 


COMPARATIVE        NUMBER      OF       PERSONS 
EMPLOYED     IN     DIFFERENT     OCCUPATIONS. 
STATE      OF      ILLINOIS. 


BORtAU       OF     L/^DOR     STATISTICS,  1 90ff- 


FIG.   5.  —  DISTRIBUTION  OF  WAGE  EARNERS  IN  ILLINOIS 


Hi  I'lk-t-tiiitii^t-     /•. //.i,'/M(T/ 1//^'  h  A  f^i'i  iiiiint  .Shilioji  7 

would  sccni  as  tliouj^li  all  the  wn^c  canuTs,  iisiii^-  all  the  possible 
j)0\vcr,  were  cngai;c(l  in  niaiuifacturin^^.  in  these  states  the  value  of 
the  inaiuifactiircil  product  per  capita  of  population  is  naturally  large. 
It  will  he  seen,  Fig.  y,  that  in  this  list  of  states  Illinois  stands  well 


HORSEPOWER  PER  CAPITA 


1900 .    m 

'^^^^^^^^^Mw^MM 

1890  ^M 

^^^^^^^^  .095 

1880  1 

.0  68 

1870  mm 

^^  -061 

POWER  PRODUCED 

IN  THE  U.S. 

BY    STATIONARY  PLANTS 

POPULATION  Hi 

WATER  POWER       CZI 
ALL  OTHER  POWER  ^ 


00 

z 
o 

-J  o 


I 


O  <M 
Q- 


I 


I860        1870      1880 

FIG.   6. — GROWTH  OF  MANUFACTURED 


up  (eighth),  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  so  many  of  the  wage 
earners  are  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  mineral  output  of 
Illinois,  Table  I,  is  restricted  largely  to  its  coal,  pig  iron,  oil,  clay, 
zinc,  and  other  natural  stones.     Even  in  this  classification  the  iron 


8  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

ore  is  brought  into  the  state,  but  this  method  of  grouping  is  usually 
followed.  The  subject  of  its  coal  production  has  been  so  often  and 
so  well  presented  to  this  Society,  that  there  is  no  need  of  treating 
it  at  length  in  this  paper.  The  importance  of  the  generous  supply  of 
coal.  Fig.  8,  furnished  from  our  mines  will,  however,  be  of  continu- 
ally increasing  importance  as  time  goes  on. 


DOLLARS 


RHODE   ISLAND 

CONNECTICUT 

MASSACHUSETTS 

NEW    JERSEY 

NEW  YORK 

PENNSYLVANIA 

NEW   HAMPSHIRE 

ILLINOIS 

MONTANA 

DELAWARE 

CALIFORNIA 

MARYLAND 

OHIO 

COLORADO 

MAINE 

WISCONSIN 

ARIZONA 

DIST.  OF  COLUMBIA 

WASHINGTON 

VERMONT 

MINNESOTA 

INDIANA 

MICHIGAN 

NEBRASKA 

MISSOURI 

KANSAS 

OREGON 

LOUISIANA 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

UTAH 

IOWA 

KENTUCKY 

VIRGINIA 

FLORIDA 

TENNESSEE 

NORTH   CAROLINA 

GEORGIA 

WYOMING 

SOUTH    CAROLINA 

ALABAMA 

NEVADA 

TEXAS 

ARKANSAS 

SOUTH   DAKOTA 

NORTH    DAKOTA 

NEW   MEXICO 

MISSISSIPPI 

IDAHO 

OKLAHOMA 


40        80         120       leo       200      240      280      320       360     400     440 


FIG.    7. — PER  CAPITA  PRODUCTION  OF  WEALTH 


Breckcnridne — Enfiincciing  lixpi-riment  Station  9 

Table  I. 

Total  Values  of  Mineral  Output  of  Illinois  in  n^oO-K^oj. 

1906  1907 

Coal $44,763,002  $54,687,382 

Pig  iron  (estimated) 47,128,000  52,228,(X)0 

Oil  3.275^802  16,432,947 

Clay 12,783,813  13.35^362 

Zinc  (estimated)  5,499,508  6,614,608 

Limestone 3,476,449  4,333»65i 

Portland  cement   2,461,494  2,632,576 

Sand  and  gravel i,043P4i  1,367,653 

Natural  and  slag  cement 188,262  174,282 

Fluorspar   160,623  141,971 

Mineral  water 77,287  91,760 

Lead  ore  (estimated)    45, 760  45,76o 

Sandstone 19,125  i4,996 

Pyrite    5,700 

Total   $120,922,226  $152,122,648 


The  development  of  Illinois  as  a  manufacturing  state  is  so  clearly 
shov^n  (Fig.  9  and  10)  by  the  table  and  chart,  that  nothing  need 
be  added  in  this  connection.  Since  1850  Illinois  has  passed  twelve 
states  ranking  then  above  it.  Whether  it  can  ever  hope  to  reach 
a  higher  rank  is  hard  to  tell,  but  it  will  be  many  years  before  it  will 
pass  its  present  leaders.  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  The  capital 
invested  and  the  product  produced  by  its  thirteen  leading  industries 
are  matters  of  some  interest  (Fig.  11  and  12).  IlHnois  needs  next 
a  larger  number  of  smaller  factories  and  it  needs  to  attract  a  larger 
variety  of  industries.  It  has  within  itself  all  the  elements  which  are 
needed  for  diversified  industries,  namely  cheap  facilities  for  produc- 
tion^a  large  population,  extensive  transportation  facilities  by  lake 
and  rail,  and  of  no  less  importance  it  has  in  Chicago  many  most 
extensive  and  efficient  organizations  for  the  distribution  of  the  fin- 
ished products. 

,  A  summary  of  Illinois  manufactures  for  the  two  years  1900  and 
1905  presents  some  interesting  figures,  Table  II.  It  shows  the  ef- 
fect of  the  growth  of  corporations,  the  increase  in  the  number  of 
establishments  being  only  3.8  per  cent.  In  all  other  items  the  growth 
is  substantial  and  rapid. 


10 


Breckenridge — Engineej'ing  Experiment  Station 


Table  II. 
Summary  of  the  Manufactures  of  Illinois. 

1905 

Number  of  establishments. . . .  14,921 

Capital  $975,844,799 

Salaried   officials,   clerks,   etc., 

number 54,521 

Salaries  $60,559,678 

Wage-earners,  average  number  379436 

Total  wages   $208,405,468 

Men  16  years  and  over 314,091 

Wages    $187,568,896 

Women  16  years  and  over.  .  60,399 

Wages    $19,893,360 

Children  under  16  years. . . .  4,946 

Wages    $943,212 

Miscellaneous  expenses $172,185,567 

Cost  of  materials  used $840,057,316 

Value   of   products,   including 

custom  work  and  repairing. $1,410,342,129 


1900 

creaae. 

14,374 

3-« 

$732,829,771 

33.2 

40,964 

33.1 

$40,549,245 

49.3 

332,871 

14.0 

$159,104,179 

31.0 

275,006 

14.2 

$143,714,217 

30.5 

47,922 

26.0 

$13,580,271 

46.5 

9,943 

*50.3 

$1,809,691 

*47.9 

$118,047,771 

45.9 

$681,450,122 

23.3 

$1,120,868,308 

25.8 

■Decrease. 


The  path  of  the  center  of  population  is  still  advancing  westward  ; 
a  little  north  of  this  path,  is  that  of  the  center  of  manufacturing 
which  apparently  keeps  the  same  few  hundred  miles  behind  it.  Fig. 
13.  Recent  changes  in  manufacturing  locations  for  several  vast 
industries  will  extend  those  paths  still  on  toward  the  west.  Will 
these  centers  reach  Illinois  ?  We  believe  they  will  and  it  looks  now 
as  though  they  would  finally  locate  on  the  campus  of  the  University 
of  Illinois. 

The  Engineering  Experiment  Station  of  the  University  of  Illinois 
was  established  by  action  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  December  8, 
1903,  in  connection  with  the  College  of  Engineering. 

There  were  two  influences  which  led  to  its  establishment;  first, 
a  demand  from  the  industrial  interests  of  the  State  for  scientific  ex- 
perimentation relating  to  manufacturing  processes,  fuel  economies 
and  transportation  problems  ;  secondly,  the  very  great  success  attend- 
ing the  work  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at  the  Uni- 
versity which  made  it  evident  that  a  similarly  successful  career  ought 
to  be  possible  for  an  engineering  experiment  station.  It  is  very 
evident  from  the  work  which  has  now  been  accomplished  by  our 
Station  and  the  many  helpful  things  it  has  done  for  the  industries 
of  the  State,  that  no  mistake  was  made  in  establishing  such  a  station. 

Organization — The  control  of  the  Engineering  Experiment  Sta- 
tion is  vested  in  the  heads  (9)  of  the  several  departments  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Engineering.     These  constitute  the  Station  Staff,  and  with 


Briuk'ini udfic — En^neerinn  li.x pi-rimcnt  Station 


45000000 

/ 

/ 

/ 

'Y 

5 

1 

40000000 

g 

1 

j 

' 

o 

^    35000000 

^ 

/ 

/ 

EH 

1 

o 

/ 

>^ 

/ 

g  30000000 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

25000000 

> 

f 

^ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

20000000 

J_ 

1 

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1 

£> 

00 

o* 

o 

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cr» 

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GO 

cx) 

CO 

o 

o> 

Of* 

0^ 

o> 

0^ 

o* 

o» 

YEAR 

FIG.  8.  — YEARLY  OUTPUT  OF  COAL  IN  ILLINOIS 


the  Director,  determine  the  character  of  the  investigations  to  be 
undertaken.  The  investigations  are  carried  on  by  the  members  of  the 
Staff  directly,  by  fellows  as  graduate  work,  by  members  of  the  in- 
structional force  of  the  College,  and  by  special  investigators  belong- 
ing to  the  Station  corps. 

Plan  and  Scope — It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Station  to  carry  on  in- 
vestigations along  the  various  lines  of  engineering,  and  to  make 


12  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

RANK  OF  MANUFACTURING  STATES. 

1850    I860    1870    1880    1890   1900 


NEW  YORK 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

MASSACHUSETTS 

2 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

PENNSYLVANIA 

3 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

OHIO 

4 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

CONNECTICUT 

5 

5 

8 

7 

10 

10 

NEW  JERSEY 

6 

6 

7 

6 

6 

6 

MARYLAND 

7 

12 

14 

13 

14 

13 

VIRGINIA 

8 

9 

MAINE 

9 

14 

12 

15 

MISSOURI 

10 

11 

5 

8 

7 

7 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

II 

15 

15 

RHODE  ISLAND 

12 

13 

10 

14 

15 

14 

KENTUCKY 

13 

16 

INDIANA 

14 

10 

II 

10 

II 

8 

ILLINOIS 

15 

8 

6 

4 

3 

3 

CALIFORNIA 

16 

7 

16 

12 

12 

II 

MICHIGAN 

16 

9 

9 

8 

9 

WISCONSIN 

13 

II 

9 

MINNESOTA 

16 

13 

12 

KANSAS 

IS 

IOWA 

16 

FIG.   9. RANK  OF  STATES  IN   MANUFACTURING 

Studies  of  problems  of  importance  to  professional  engineers,  and  to 
the  manufacturing,  mining,  railway,  constructional  and  industrial 
interests  of  the  State.  It  is  believed  that  this  experimental  work  will 
result  in  contributions  of  value  to  engineering  science  and  to  the 
industries  of  the  State  and  that  the  pursuit  of  such  investigations 
will  give  inspiration  to  students  and  add  to  the  value  of  the  instruc- 
tional work  in  the  College  of  Engineering. 

Equipment  and  Facilities — In  carrying  on  the  activities  of  the 
Engineering  Experiment  Station,  there  is  necessary  a  large  amount 
of  equipment  of  various  kinds  suitable  for  investigational  purposes. 


Di cckenridRC — Iitifitnrt'rinf^  li.x  pci  inir)it  Station 


13 


CHART 

SHOWING 

RANKoMLLINOIS 

AS  A 

MANUFACTURING  STATE 


-RANK  OF  ILLINOIS  AS  A  MANUFACTURING  STATE 


The  regular  equipment  provided  for  instruction  in  the  College  of 
Engineering  has  largely  been  used  for  these  investigations,  supple- 
mented by  the  purchase  of  additional  apparatus  necessary  for  special 
researches  in  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station.  After  an  investi- 
gation has  been  concluded,  the  apparatus  used  becomes  a  part  of 
the  equipment  of  the  department  to  which  it  most  naturally  belongs. 
The  item  of  expense  for  equipment,  therefore,  does  not  enter  into 
the  general  expenses  of  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station.  (The 
value  of  this  total  equipment  in  the  College  of  Engineering  is  now 
[April  1909]  about  $225,000.) 


14 


Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 


CAPITAL       INVESTE.D     IN    THIRTLEN      LEADING 
INDUSTRIE.S     OF    THE      STATE.     OF      ILLINOIS. 

BUREAU    OF  LABOR    STATISTICS- 190€ 


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m. 


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3       rrjUNDRY 

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CAS     lUULintNATlNC     AND   HtftTING 


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JUORS  -  DISTILLED      ANO     MA 
S    ATID     PUBU3M1NG 
CARS    AND     REPAIRS 


COM  >ANATIVE 


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A'iO    OJPPCI? 


LEADINC 


CAPITAL     INVeSTEO      IN    TMIRTEEH 
INDUSTRIES     AND    ALL    C3THER     INDUSTRIES. 


W////M^//////A    CLOTHirsa 


ETH 


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''///////////A      Ma<5IC«L      .NSTOUMtNTS 


mm.u.ons       or     oollAr.i 

-CAPITAL  INVESTED  IN  THIRTEEN  LEADING  ILLINOIS  INDUSTRIES 


ANNUAL  VALUE  of  the  MANUFACTURED  PRODUCT 
OF  THIRTEEN  LEADING  INDUSTRIES  of  ILLINOIS 

BUREAU  OF  LABOR  STATISTICS    1900. 


P#%M»#M%#M%m   rcr..  ^.  ^..  sr.r.      ,4>05SZ,Z,  ^M^^^MMM^MMMMMMMMmM^ 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


m///////////////A       L.,.c 
Ci.  O  T»" 


w/mmm 


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FIG.    12. — ANNUAL  VALUE  OF  MANUFACTURED  PRODUCTS  IN  ILLINOIS 


Breckenrid^e — liniiinccrvm  lix()cnmcnl  Station 


15 


The  funds  expended  in  carrying  on  the  investigations,  already 
completed  and  now  in  progress,  have  been  during  the  last  five  years 
a  little  over  $150,000,  making  an  annual  expenditure  of  about 
$30,000. 

The  existence  of  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  at  the 
University  makes  it  possible  to  utilize  to  great  advantage — 

(i)     The  library  facilities  of  the  University. 

(2)  The  continual  extension  of  the  equipment  of  the  various 
departments  of  the  College  of  Engineering. 

(3)  The  helpful  suggestions  and  direct  co-operation  of  other 
scientific  departments  at  the  University  outside  of  the  College  of 
Engineering. 


9        Center  J/    Pcp<./jflOrt 


/nm  CoMJ  Tfepo^r  o/  /900 


FtG.    13. PATH   OF  CENTER   OF   POPULATION   AND  OF    MANUFACTURES 


With  these  three  aids  the  expenditure  of  our  funds  is  bound  to 
result  in  much  larger  returns  than  v^^ould  be  possible  otherwise. 

The  work  of  the  Station  is  going  on  in  all  of  the  technical  and 
scientific  laboratories  of  the  University.  As  an  indication  of  the 
character  of  the  investigations  which  are  now  possible  a  list  of  sev- 
eral important  pieces  of  apparatus  and  installations  is  given.  In 
connection  with  this  article  there  are  also  given  several  reproduc- 
tions showing  the  laboratories  in  which  the  investigations  are  in 
progress  and  also  the  most  important  apparatus. 


16  Brcckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

List  of  Equipment  in  the  Different  Laboratories. 
In  the  Laboratories  of  Applied  Mechanics  and  Hydraulics. 

( I )  A  Riehle  vertical'  screw  power  testing  machine  of  600,000 
pounds  capacity  fitted  to  take  large  and  bulky  test  specimens.  This 
machine  will  take  compression  pieces  25  ft.  long  and  tension  pieces 


of  the  same  net  length  except  as  allowance  must  be  made  for  stretch. 
The  clear  distance  between  screws  is  36  in.,  which  gives  room  for 
bulky  and  built-up  pieces.  The  machine  is  provided  with  a  stiffened 
vertical  frame  to  allow  eccentric  and  oblique  forces  to  be  applied 


Ih  t'cktni  idi^i-     lin)^int-i->  in)^  lix(n-t  i»u)tl  Stulion 


17 


to  test  pieces,  an  uiuisiial  feature  in  lestin<^  macliiiies.  Short  beams 
may  be  tested  on  the  inacliine,  and  provision  may  easily  be  made  for 
testing  longer  beams.  Auxiliary  a])pliances  are  used  for  holding 
the  various  forms  of  test  pieces  in  order  to  secure  an  application  or 
distribution  of  the  load  in  the  manner  desired.  Especial  attention 
was  given  in  the  design  and  construction  of  the  machine  to  making 


FIG.  15  TESTING  A  REINFORCED  CONCRETE  BEAM 


FIG.  16. — TESTING  LARGE  REINFORCED  CONCRETE  FLOOR  SLABS 
FOR  TRACK  ELEVATION,  I.  C.  R.  R. 


18 


Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 


it  applicable  to  a  large  range  of  tests.  The  calibration  of  the  ma- 
chine shows  that  it  is  very  accurate  and  very  sensitive.  For  the 
smaller  loads  a  second  poise  weighing  up  to  60,000  lb.  is  used. 
Fig.  14. 


FIG.    17. — TESTING  LARGE  REINFORCED  CONCRETE  FLOOR  SLABS 
I.    C.    R.     R.    TRACK  ELEVATION 


FIG.    18. — GENERAL  VIEW  OF   MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING  LABORATORY 


Bfcckcnridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station  \^ 

(2)  An  Olsen  four-screw  testing  machine  of  200,cxxj  lb.  for 
tests  in  tension,  compression  and  (lexiire.  This  machine  will  take 
beams  up  to  a  lenq^th  of  20  ft.     Fii^.  15. 

(3)  Four  100,000-11)  testing  machines  of  different  makes,  fitted 
up  in  the  usual  way. 

(4)  An  Olsen  torsion  machine  of  220,000  inch-pound  capacity. 

(5)  An  Olsen  vibratory  testing  machine  for  testing  stay  bolts. 

(6)  An  impact  testing  machine  with  a  capacity  of  3,000  foot 
pounds,  fitted  with  autographic  apparatus  for  recording  the  velocity 
of  the  falling  weight  and  the  deformation  of  the  specimen. 


FIG.   19. EXPERIMENTAL  BOILER  PLANT,    210  H.     P.    HEINE  WATER  TUBE  BOILER 

GREEN  CHAIN  GRATE,    STURTEVANT  ECONOMIZER  AND  FOSTER  SUPERHEATER 

(7)  Four  hydraulic  jacks  with  pumps  having  a  total  capacity  of 
800,000  lb.,  with  auxiliary  rigging,  available  for  testing  large  cul- 
vert pipe,  large  reinforced  concrete  beams,  reinforced  concrete  pier 
footings  and  other  bulky  pieces.    Fig.  i6  and  17. 

(8)  A  variety  of  smaller  machines  for  testing  cast  iron,  timber, 
etc. 

(9)  A  large  equipment  in  measuring  devices  such  as  extenso- 
meters  for  various  uses,  autographic  recording  devices,  gauges,  etc. 
Many  of  these  pieces  of  apparatus  were  designed  and  built  by  the 
department  and  are  especially  adapted  to  the  work  of  the  laboratory. 

(10)  A  commodious  hydraulic  laboratory,  well  equipped  with 
steam  engine,  steam  pumps,  centrifugal  pumps,  standpipe  and  pres- 
sure tanks,  lines  of  piping,  measuring  pits,  tanks,  weirs,  gauges, 
meters,  motors,  etc.,  giving  excellent  facilities  for  testing  hydraulic 
apparatus  and  for  making  investigations  in  hydraulics.  The  equip- 
ment includes  apparatus  for  the  study  of  problems  of  sedimentation 
and  filtration  of  public  water  supplies  and  the  softening  and  re- 
moval of  iron  from  water. 


20  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

In  the  Mechanical  Laboratory. —  (Fig.  i8  and  19.) 

I.  A  210  H.P.  Heine  water-tube  boiler  especially  arranged  for 
testing  Illinois  coals.  This  boiler  is  a  duplicate  of  the  boilers  used 
by  the  United  States  government  in  testing  coals  from  various  parts 
of  the  country.    A  Green  chain  grate  stoker  is  installed  under  this 


boiler,  and  draft  is  furnished  by  a  Sturtevant  induced  draft  fan, 
drawing  the  gases  through  an  economizer.  The  chain  grate  under 
the  boiler  may  easily  be  removed  and  a  plain  furnace  for  hand- 
firing  substituted.    A  complete   equipment  of   auxiliary   apparatus 


Brrckt'ni  uilit'    -lin^iinrt-nnfi  Ii.\  fffnincnt  Slutioti 


21 


necessary  for  l)()iler  tests  is  available,  incliidiiiL;  rccordiiij^^  and  ()j)tical 
pyrometers,  and  standard  and  recordiii)^  ai)i)aratus  for  continuous 
gas  analysis.  Facilities  arc  now  available  in  the  department  of 
physics  for  caHbratinp;"  all  thermometers  and  pyrometers  used  in 
work  of  this  character. 


l^HB^ 

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i 

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i 

T^ 

m 

FIG.    21. — YORK  ICE  AND  REFRIGERATING  MACHINE 

2.  An  independently-fired  Foster  superheater  capable  of  super- 
heating- the  steam  from  a  150  H.P.  boiler  to  300  deg.  F.  above  its 
temperature,  at  120  pounds  gauge. 

3.  Several  residence  heating  boilers,  for  hot-air,  steam  and  hot 
water  service.  These  boilers  will  serve  to  compare  the  values  of 
such  various  coals  as  are  offered  in  the  Illinois  market  for  domestic 
purposes.    Fig.  20. 

4.  A  1 0-ton  York  refrigerating  plant  for  the  production  of  cold 
or  for  specific  tests.  With  this  plant  there  are  17  cans  for  ice 
making,  each  holding  100  pounds.  The  possibility  of  subjecting 
various  building  stones  or  other  material  to  alternate  freezing  and 
thawing  is  worthy  of  consideration.  The  effect  of  fifty  winters 
might  thus  be  known  in  a  single  month.  The  heat  conductivity  of 
all  kinds  of  walls  used  in  buildings  could  be  tested.    Fig.  21. 

5.  A  liquid  air  plant  with  a  capacity  of  about  three  quarts  an 
hour.  It  consists  of  a  Norwalk  four-stage  compressor,  compres- 
sing up  to  3,000  pounds,  together  with  a  Hampson  liquefier  with 
facilities  for  temperature  determinations. 

6.  An  Ingersoll-Sergeant  two-stage  air  compressor  driven  by 
compound  steam  cylinders.  The  steam  cylinders  are  12  in.  and  22 
in.  in  diameter  with  a  12  in.  stroke,  and  air  cylinders  are  12^4  in. 


22 


Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 


and  iS%.  in.  in  diameter  with  a  12  in.  stroke.    A  vertical  receiver 
42  in.  by  8  ft.  high  is  provided  for  use  with  the  compressor. 

7.  A  50  H.P.  suction  gas  producer  built  by  the  Otto  Gas  Engine 
Works.  This  producer  is  adapted  to  burning  anthracite  pea  coal, 
coke  or  charcoal.  Special  apparatus  is  available  for  extensive  in- 
vestigations of  gas  producer  problems. 

8.  An  Otto  gas  engine  of  23  H.P.  capacity  for  use  in  connection 
with  the  gas  producer.  The  engine  cylinder  is  10  in.  in  diameter, 
with  a  19-in.  stroke.  It  is  provided  with  a  compressed  air  starting 
device,  sparking  generator,  speed  indicators  and  all  other  instru- 
ments necessary  for  testing  gas  engines.    Fig.  22. 


FIG,  22. A  50  H.    P.   GAS  PRODUCER  AND  OTTO  GAS  ENGINE 

IN   MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING  LABORATORY 

9.  A  15  H.P.  De  Laval  steam  turbine  direct-connected  to  a  com- 
pound centrifugal  pump.  This  apparatus  will  deliver  140  gallons 
of  water  per  minute  when  pumping  against  a  head  of  500  feet.  The 
turbine  wheel  and  small  pump  runner  make  23,500  revolutions  per 
minute ;  the  large  pump  runner  makes  2,350  revolutions  per  minute. 
The  turbine  is  provided  with  condensing  and  non-condensing 
nozzles. 

10.  A  hot  blast  heating  system  installed  to  heat  the  Mechanical 
Engineering  Laboratory.  This  consists  of  a  series  of  coils  amount- 
ing to  2,800  feet  of  I -in.  pipe  and  a  72-in.  fan  draws  the  air  through 
the  coils  and  forces  it  into  the  galvanized  iron  pipe,  36  in.  in  diam- 
eter, which  distributes  it  to  different  parts  of  the  building.  The  fan 
is  driven  by  a  small  vertical  steam  engine. 

11.  A  100  H.P.  Allis-Chalmers  Corliss  engine,  equipped  with  a 
suitable  brake  and  other  apparatus  for  making  tests. 

12.  Several  high-speed  steam  engines  for  testing  and  for  driving 
other  apparatus. 

13.  Several  types  of  gasoline  engines,  ranging  from  i  to  10 
H.P.,  for  experimental  purposes. 


Breckenrid^e—LnginciHH^  l'..x  pcriment  Station  2'.i 

14.  Automobile  motor,  4  cyliiulcr,  iiulcpciulently  cast,  of  30  ll.I*., 
specially  equipped  for  extensive  investigation  of  high-speed  internal 
combustion  motors. 

15.  An  automobile  testing  platform  for  testing  automobiles. 

16.  A  six-stai;e,  ()0  11. P.  Kerr  steam  turl)inc,  e(iuij)ped  with 
absorption  dynamometer,  and  installed  with  60  II. P.  Wheeler  sur- 
face condenser  and  suj)plicd  with  saturated  or  superheated  steam. 

17.  A  Worthin^ton  surface  condenser,  362  sq.  ft.  of  cooling  sur- 
face with  independent  steam  driven  vacuum  and  circulating  pumps, 
equipped  for  special  investigations  of  condenser  performance. 


'■f>W4!l 


I  I 


m&*^--'- 


•    FIG.    23. — U.    OF  I.    MACHINE  SHOP,  LATHE  AND  MOTOR   DRIVE  FOR  TESTS    OF 
HIGH  SPEED  TOOL  STEELS 

18.  A  Meitz  &  Weiss,  2-cycle,  10  H.P.  kerosene  engine  equipped 
for  com.parative  tests  of  oil  and  alcohol. 

19.  Gas  Analysis  Laboratory  for  complete  analyses  of  flue  gases 
from  Heine  boiler  and  house  heating-boilers  and  furnaces,  exhaust 
gases  from  gas  engines,  and  power  gas  from  the  producer. 

20.  A  lo-ton  electric  crane,  having  three  alternating  current  mo- 
tors, for  experimental  work. 

21.  A  Golden  oil  testing  machine  for  testing  lubricating  oils  and 
bearing  metals. 

22.  A  lathe  and  motor  for  tests  with  high  speed  tool  steels. 
Fig.  23. 


24  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

In   the  Electrical  Laboratory — (Fig.   24). 

1.  Three  rotary  converters  furnishing  current  based  on  no  and 
550  volts  D.  C. 

2.  A    15    H.P.    variable    speed    Westinghouse   D.    C.    interpole 
motor  giving  a  speed  range  of  300  to  1,200  rev.  per  min. 

3.  A  7)^  kw.  inductor  alternator  which  can  be  run  at  frequencies 
up  to  150  cycles. 


PH 

FIG     24. — MAIN  TESTING  FLOOR  OF  THE  ELECTRICAL  LABORATORY 

4.  Two  General  Electric  stationary  armature  alternators  de- 
signed to  operate  as  either  two  or  three  phase  generators  or  motors 
and  at  a  variety  of  voltages. 

5.  A  45  kw.  motor  generator  set,  used  to  furnish  a  constant, 
voltage  either  A.  C.  or  D.  C.  for  experimental  purposes. 

6.  Several  induction  motors  ranging  from  2  to  5  H.P.,  of  one, 
two,  and  three  phases  and  various  voltages. 

7.  A  number  of  no  and  220  volt  D.  C.  motors  of  from  10-15 
H.P.  and  a  variety  of  D.  C.  generators  of  various  makes  and  rang- 
ing up  to  10  kw.  in  capacity. 

8.  A  single  phase,  variable  speed,  220  volt,  10  H.P.,  A.  C. 
motor. 

9.  A  60  cell  Gould  storage  battery  of  240  ampere-hours  capacity 
with  a  switch  board  so  arranged  that  all  voltages  between  2  and  120 
can  be  obtained ;  also  current  up  to  100  amperes  at  full  voltage  with 
greatly  increased  current  at  lower  voltage. 

10.  A  large  number  of  transformers  of  various  capacities,  volt- 
ages and  transformation  ratios,  including  a  small  10,000  volt  and  a 
10  kw.  100,000  volt  testing  transformer. 

11.  A  photometry  and  illumination  laboratory,  provided  with  a 


Breckenvidge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 


25 


3  meter  and  a  5  meter  photometer  bar,  photometers  of  various  kinds, 
standard  lamps,  a  Sharp  Millar  illuminometer  and  a  room  equipped 
for  the  study  of  problems  in  illumination. 

12.  Two  experimental  telephone  switchboards  and  a  supply  of 
both  manual  and  automatic  telephone  apparatus. 

13.  A  large  equipment  in  electrical  measuring  instruments  of 
various  types,  both  A.  C.  and  D.  C,  among  which  is  a  series  of 
electrostatic  voltmeters  measuring  up  to  1,800  volts. 

14.  A  line  set  of  standard  electrical  measuring  instruments  in- 
cluding a  Weston  D.  C.  laboratory  standard  voltmeter  and  a  milli- 
voltmeter,  Westinghouse  precision  voltmeter,  ammeter  and  watt- 
meter and  a  Leeds  Northrup  potentiometer. 

There  are  also  switchboards  for  rapid  handling  of  apparatus, 
numerous  lamp  banks  for  resistance,  oscillographs,  inductances,  con- 
densers, a  mercury  arc  rectifier,  arc  lamps  of  many  types,  racks  for 
life  tests  of  incandescent  lamps  and  much  other  smaller  apparatus 
of  value  in  research  work.  The  department  maintains  a  well 
equipped  machine  shop  with  an  expert  mechanic  in  charge  so  that 
special  apparatus  can  be  made  under  the  direction  of  the  experi- 
menter on  short  notice. 

The  Cement  Laboratory. 

This  laboratory  is  equipped  with  briquette  molds,  molding  ma- 
chines, testing  machines,  etc.,  necessary  in  testing  hydraulic  cement, 
and  in  making  investigations  as  to  the  effect  of  different  materials 
and  methods  of  manipulation  upon  the  strength  of  mortars  and 
concrete. 

The  Road-Materials  Laboratory — (Fig.  25). 

The  Civil  Engineering  department  in  its  Road-Materials  Labora- 
tory is  equipped  with  apparatus  for  testing  materials  for  road  and 
pavement  construction  as  follows : 


FIG.    25. ROAD    MATERIALS    TESTING    LABORATORY 


26  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

(i)  Two  types  of  rattlers  for  testing  brick:  National  Brick 
Manufacturers'  Association  and  Talbot- Jones,  machines. 

(2)  A  Dorrey,  a  Deval  and  a  Page  machine  with  the  necessary 
accessories  for  testing  the  road-building  qualities  of  gravel  and 
macadam. 

(3)  A  stone  crusher,  ball  mill,  briquette  machine  and  impact  ma- 
chine for  testing  the  cementation  of  stone  and  gravel  for  road  con- 
struction. 

(4)  Testing  sieves  and  agitator  for  grading  stone  and  gravel, 
also  balances  for  accurate  weighing. 

In  the  Physics  Laboratory. 

The  department  of  Physics  has  already  done  much  valuable  work 
for  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station.  Upon  the  completion 
next  September  (1909)  of  its  new  Physics  Laboratory,  costing  a 
quarter  of  a  million  dollars,  it  will  then  have  such  equipment  and 
facilities  as  will  enable  it  to  do  extensive  fundamental  research  work 
which  will  be  of  great  value  to  the  Station.  It  is  already  well 
equipped  for  such  work  as — 

(i)  The  checking  and  calibration  of  instruments  for  measuring 
temperatures. 

(2)  The  checking  and  calibration  of  electrical  standards  and 
instruments. 

Miscellaneous  Testing. — Besides  the  equipment  for  the  work  in 
the  lines  indicated  above,  the  department  of  Physics  is  supplied 
for  research  work  with  standard  apparatus  of  a  variety  of  kinds,  all 
of  which  is  available  for  testing  purposes.  Such  facilities  are 
standard  barometers,  standards  of  length,  photometric  standards 
with  photometers,  standards  of  weight  with  sensitive  physical  bal- 
ances, a  dividing  engine  and  comparator,  vacuum  and  compression 
pumps  with  gauges,  and  various  optical  apparatus  for  the  determi- 
nation of  optical  constants  and  accurate  appliances  for  the  measure- 
ment of  volume  or  pressure  of  liquids  and  gases. 

In  the  Railway  Laboratory. 

(i)  Electric  Test  Car. — The  Railway  Engineering  Department 
owns  a  two  hundred  horse  power  electric  test  car.  This  car,  of  the 
interurban  type,  was  designed  especially  for  experimental  work  and 
was  built  in  1905.  It  is  equipped  with  four-50  H.P.  D.  C.  motors 
and  with  the  Westinghouse  multiple  control  system.  The  car  is 
supplied  with  recording  voltmeters,  ammeters,  and  wattmeters  and 
with  auxiliary  measuring  arid  recording  devices  by  means  of  which 
there  is  automatically  made  a  graphical  record  of  voltage,  current, 
power,  speed,  acceleration,  time,  and  curvature. 

By  the  courtesy  of  the  Illinois  Traction  System,  whose  lines  are 
at  present  operated  between  the  cities  of  Danville,  Urbana,  Cham- 
paign, Decatur,  Bloomington,  Springfield  and  St.  Louis,  the  de- 
partment is  enabled  to  operate  this  car  on  their  lines. 


Breckt-firidfie — lin^inct'rinn  Experiment  Mutton 


27 


(2)  Dynamometer  Car.  There  was  tlesi^ned  and  built  in  1900 
a  dynainonieter  car  which  is  owned  jointly  by  the  University  and  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad.  This  car  is  equipped  with  all  the  appli- 
ances necessary  for  carryings  on  train  resistance  experiments,  as 
well  as  with  auxiliary  apparatus  used  during-  locomotive  tests. 
During  the  seven  years  in  which  it  has  been  in  service  this  car  has 
been  operated  over  the  entire  Illinois  Central  System,  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  tonnage  ratings,  as  well  as  on  the  lines  of  the  New 
Jersey  Central,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  the  Cleveland,  Cincinnati, 
Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  and  the  New  York  Central  Railways.  Fig. 
26  is  a  view  of  the  interior  of  this  car. 


FIG.    26. — INTERIOR  OF  DYNAMOMETER  CAR 

(3)  Drop  Testing  Machine. — There  has  recently  been  added  to 
the  equipment  of  the  Railway  Engineering  Department  a  standard 
drop  testing  machine  which  in  its  design  conforms  to  the  specifica- 
tions of  the  Master  Car  Builders'  Association.  This  apparatus  is 
used  in  making  impact  tests  of  car  couplers,  wheels,  axles  and  other 
material.  It  consists  essentially  of  a  hammer  weighing  1640  pounds 
which  runs  in  vertical  guides  fifty  feet  in  height.  The.  material  to 
be  tested  is  placed  upon  the  massive  foundation  at  the  base  of  the 
machine  and  the  hammer  is  allowed  to  fall  upon  it  from  any  de- 
sired height. 


28  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

(4)  Brake  Shoe  Testing  Machine. — For  the  testing  of  brake 
shoes  the  department  has  constructed  a  brake  shoe  testing  machine 
similar  in  design  and  identical  in  operation  with  the  standard  ma- 
chine owned  by  the  Master  Car  Builders'  Association.  By  means 
of  this  apparatus  it  is  possible  to  determine  the  coefficients  of  fric- 
tion and  the  wearing  qualities  of  various  makes  of  brake  shoes,  as 
well  as  the  wear  of  the  wheel  under  the  action  of  the  shoes. 

The  above  list  will  serve  to  show  what  facilities  are  now  available 
for  investigations  in  certain  lines  of  work;  but  after  all  it  is  men 
and  not  facilities  that  determine  what  of  value  will  finally  be  done. 
The  men  who  have  been  giving  thought,  direction,  energy  and  work 
to  the  Station  during  the  last  year  are  in  a  general  way  indicated 
by  the  following  groups : — 

(a)  The  heads  of  the  different  departments  of  the 

College  of  Engineering 9  persons 

(b)  The  special  investigators  of  the  Station.   Experts 

devoting   all  their   time   to   this   work,    doing 

work,  directing  work  and  planning  work 9  persons 

(c)  Research  Fellows  of  the  Station  appointed  for 

two  years,  devoting  one  half  their  time  to  the 
investigations  of  the  Station  and  one  half  to 
Graduate  Work,  receiving  the  Master's  degree 
at  the  end  of  the  period 9  persons 

(d)  Various  members  of  the  corps  of  instruction  of 

,  the  College  of  Engineering  who  are  able  to  de- 
vote a  small  part  of  their  time  to  some  inves- 
tigation or  who  are  able  to  direct  some  work 
in  progress  by  assistants,  fellows  or  scholars .  .  10  persons 

(e)  Some  Fellows  and  Scholars  doing  research  work 

in  the  Graduate  School 4  persons 

(f)  Heads  of  other  departments  of  the  University. 

Experts  of  the  Federal  Government,  chiefs  of 
state  department  bureaus,  all  cooperating  with 
the  Station  for  the  mutual  advance  of  special 
investigations    , 8  persons 

(g)  Advisory  Committees  representing  various  engi- 

neering societies  and  commercial  and  civic  or- 
ganizations giving  counsel,  advice,  suggestions 

and  criticisms  10  persons 

(h)     Draftsmen,  computers,  clerks,  mechanics,  assist- 
ants and  laborers 12  persons 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  more  than  seventy  persons  are  now  more 
or  less  directly  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Station ;  of  this  num- 
ber about  fifty  are  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  Station  for 
a  part  of  their  time  and  approximately  twenty  persons  are  devot- 
ing all  their  time  to  the  interests  of  the  Station.  ^ 


Bn'i  kcnridni' — lin^itwi-rinn  li.x  (u-rimeyit  Station  *^9 

The  Work  Already  Accomplished. 

The  work  which  has  thus  far  been  undertaken  may  be  divided 
into  three  parts  : — 

(a)  Work  completed  and  resuhs  pubHshed. 

(b)  Work  in  pro<jress. 

(c)  Work  of  preHminary  investigations. 

(a)  There  have  now  been  pubHshed  (a  few  now  in  press) 
thirty-six  (36)  bulletin^  of  the  Station.  As  these  bulletins  are  sent 
to  all  members  of  this  Society  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  refer  in 
detail  to  their  titles  or  to  the  character  of  the  investigations  to  which 
they  refer.  When  an  investigation  has  been  completed  and  the 
manuscript  and  drawings  are  ready  for  the  press,  a  publication  com- 
mittee of  three  is  appointed  who  are  asked  to  read  the  material  pre- 
pared, to  look  out  for  errors,  and  to  criticise  the  work  as  they  desire. 
The  number  of  each  edition  published  varies  from  six  to  twelve 
thousand  copies,  depending  upon  the  character  of  the  work  and  the 
estimated  demand  for  the  number.  In  several  instances  a  second 
edition  has  been  found  necessary.  At  present  about  one-half  of  the 
bulletins  printed  are  sent  to  residents  of  Illinois,  the  other  half  are 
sent  to  residents  of  other  states  and  foreign  countries.  That  the 
work  of  the  Station  is  fully  appreciated  by  engineers,  manufactur- 
ers and  others  is  shown  by  the  hundreds  of  congratulatory  letters 
received  by  the  Station  as  well  as  by  the  very  considerable  space 
given  in  the  best  technical  papers  at  home  and  abroad,  to  the  repro- 
duction of  its  papers  and  to  favorable  editorial  comment.  It  is  par- 
ticularly desired  that  the  bulletins  of  the  Station  should  be  received 
by  all  persons  in  Illinois  interested  in  the  numerous  problems  which 
connect  its  many  industrial  activities  with  the  researches  of  engi- 
neering and  applied  science,  such  as  manufacturing,  mining  and 
railway  transportation ;  the  chemical  and  heat  values  of  Illinois 
fuels ;  coal  consumption  in  boiler  furnaces,  in  gas  producers,  or  in 
residence  heating  furnaces ;  the  strength  of  materials  used  in  build- 
ing engineering  structures ;  the  strength  of  concrete  both  plain  and 
reinforced;  the  durability  of  road  material:  the  flow  of  water  in 
pipes,  conduits  and  channels ;  the  sanitary  problems  of  industrial 
corporations  and  municipalities ;  the  generation,  transmission  and 
use  of  electricity ;  the  problems  of  architectural  construction,  roof 
trusses,  columns,  base  plates,  piers  and  foundations ;  the  cost  of 
power  and  the  problems  of  heating  and  ventilation;  the  problems  of 
heat  transmission,  radiation  and  absorption ;  the  problems  of  speech 
and  signal  transmission  and  many  other  problems  which  the  above 
enumeration  will  suggest. 

In  the  wise  distribution  of  the  publications  of  the  Station,  the 
members  of  this  Society  may  be  most  helpful  and  they  should  re- 
quest that  bulletins  be  sent  to  such  persons,  particularly  those  liv- 
ing in  Illinois,  as  they  beHeve  would  use  and  appreciate  them.  There 
are  in  Illinois  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  public  libraries,  all  of 


30  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

which  receive  our  bulletins.  They  should  be  urged  to  preserve  their 
copies,  as  many  of  the  earlier  numbers  are  now  out  of  print  and  are 
not  easily  procured. 

The  mailing  list  for  the  Experiment  Station  bulletins  is  made  up 
about  as  follows  : — 

1.  Receiving    All    Bulletins,      (a)     List    comprising    all 

members  of  the  W.  S.  E. ;  (b)  All  members  of  sev- 
eral Illinois  societies,  clubs  and  commercial  organi- 
zations ;  (c)  The  residents  of  Illinois  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  National  Engineering  Societies;  (d)  The 
Technical  Press,  domestic  and  foreign;  (e)  The 
leading  libraries  of  the  U.  S.  and  all  libraries  in  Illi- 
nois;  (f)  Instructional  Staff  and  all  graduates  of  the 
College   of   Engineering 4500 

2.  Receiving  only  Classified  Bulletins,      (a)      Manufac- 

turers interested  only  in  special  subjects;  (b)  Fuel 
Engineers;  (c)  Refrigeration  engineers;  (d) 
Heating  and  Ventilating  Engineers;  (e)  Railway 
Clubs;  Boards  of  health;  (f)  City  Smoke  Depart- 
ments; (g)  Sch^Dols  and  Colleges;  (h)  Miners 
and  operators  of   Toal  Mines •. looo  to  4000 

3.  Receiving  Bulletins  on  Request.    (Application  for  Bul- 

letins reach  the  Station  from  all  parts  of  the  world 
following  reviews  by  the  technical  press) 1000  to  1500 

4.  Unclassified  List — General  500 

(b)  There  are  now  over  fifty  lines  of  investigation  in  progress 
in  the  Station;  some  are  nearing  completion,  some  are  but  just 
started.  Many  preliminary  researches  reveal  the  absence  of  any 
necessity  for  further  work.  Some  investigations  lead  only  to  nega- 
tive results.  The  following  list  will  give  an  indication  as  to  the 
character  of  work  now  (May  i,  1909)  in  progress,  distributed 
among  the  various  departments. 

Investigations  in  Progress. 

1.  A   study  of  plain  base  plates   and   ribbed  base  plates   for 
columns. 

2.  Economical  design  of  steel  and  of  wooden  roof  trusses. 

3.  Description  of  specialties  and  conveniences  adapted  for  iso- 
lated country  dwellings. 

4.  Tests  on  the  action  of  rolling  loads  on  ordinary  highway 
bridges. 

5.  Standardization  of  the  rattler  test  for  paving  brick. 

6.  Use  of  concrete  on  the  farm. 

7.  Tests  on  tungsten  lamps. 

8.  Interference  between  high  potential  and  telephone  lines. 

9.  Tests  of  household  electric  appliances. 


Brcckcnridge — EnRincvrin^  lixperiment  Station  81 

10.  Electric  drives  for  machine  tools. 

11.  The  flow  of  steam  through  nozzles. 

12.  Transmission  of  heat  throuj^h  tubes  under  varyinj^^  velocities 
of  water  flow. 

13.  Gas  producer  tests  at  varying-  capacities. 

14.  Problems  in  steam  heating  by  a  central  station  system. 

15.  The  cost  of  power. 

16.  Fuel  tests  with  house-heating  boilers. 

17.  Experiments  on  a  smokeless  furnace. 

18.  Fuel  tests  with  hot  air  furnaces. 

19.  Fuel  tests  with  Illinois  coal  in  power  plant  boilers. 

20.  The  weathering  of  coal. 

21.  Causes  which  promote  the  spontaneous  combustion  of  coal. 

22.  Report  of  tests  of  Illinois  Coals  by  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey. 

23.  Occluded  gases  in  coal. 

24.  The  low  temperature  distillation  of  coal. 

25.  On  the  rate  of  formation  of  carbon  monoxide  in  gas  pro- 
ducers. 

26.  Thermal-conductivities  at  high  temperatures. 

27.  Boiler  waters. 

28.  Electric  car  resistance. 

29.  Boiler  plate  temperatures. 

30.  Wheel  flange  pressures. 

31.  Tests  of  rock  ballast  road-beds. 

32.  Resistance  of  interurban  cars  on  curves. 

33.  Train  resistance  tests  on  steam  roads. 

34.  Relation   of  economic  conditions  of  territory   to  types   of 
electric  roads. 

35.  The  properties  of  reinforced  concrete  columns  with  special 
reference  to  the  use  of  large  amounts  of  steel. 

36.  The  properties  of  reinforced  concrete  beams ;  web  resistance 
and  modulus  of  elasticity. 

37.  Reinforced  concrete  wall  footings  and  pier  footings. 

38.  An  investigation  of  continuous  beams  made  with  reinforced 
concrete. 

39.  Bond  between  concrete  and  steel. 

40.  The  distribution  of  stress  in  structural  steel  columns. 

41.  A  study  of  tests  of  timber  stringers. 

42.  The  distribution  of  stresses  in  structural  steel  compression 
pieces. 

43.  The  action  of  metals  under  torsional  and  under  combined 
flexure  and  torsion. 

44.  Resilience  of  metals  beyond  the  elastic  limit. 

45.  Strength  and  cost  of  acetylene-oxygen  welds  in  steel  and 
other  metals. 

46.  Flow  of  water  through  sand  and  well  screens. 

47.  The  discharge  of  water  from  orifices  and  short  tubes. 

48.  An  investigation  of  water  hammer  in  pipes. 


32  ■  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

49.     Measurement  of  water  by  means  of  vertical  tubes. 

Doubtless  some  of  the  above  work  will  lead  to  no  results,  some  of 
it  will  not  be  completed  for  several  years  to  come,  but  much  of  it 
is  progressing  rapidly  and  the  prospect  is  good  for  future  valu- 
able bulletins  covering  a  wide  field. 

The  Influence  of  the  Station  on  Our  Educational  Work. 

It  was  our  thought  at  the  outset  that  the  pursuit  of  definite  ex- 
perimental work  would  give  inspiration  to  our  students  and  add 
to  the  value  of  the  instructional  work  of  the  College  of  Engineering. 
We  have  found  this  to  be  true.  The  work  of  the  Station  has  had  a 
marked  effect  in  strengthening  our  instructional  work.  The  con- 
tact with  scientific  experimentation  and  the  methods  of  presenting 
the  results  in  carefully  prepared  bulletins  is  a  most  helpful  factor 
in  the  training  of  the  young  engineer.  It  is  impossible  for  our  ex- 
perimental work  to  go  on  without  attracting  the  attention  of  our 
students.  The  work  must  be  carefully  and  accurately  done ;  the 
preparation  of  charts  and  diagrams  and  the  checking  and  re- 
checking  of  results  and  computations  involve  extreme  care  and  ac- 
curacy. The  fact  that  students  see  how  problems  are  taken  up, 
how  they  are  solved,  and  the  whole  work  satisfactorily  presented, 
is  perhaps  the  greatest  single  educational  gain  to  them.  They  live 
in  an  atmosphere  of  research  which  they  unconsciously  absorb. 
They  are  attracted  toward  research  work  themselves.  They  realize 
that  failure  to  contribute  each  particular  assignment  with  accuracy 
may  result  in  the  failure  of  the  entire  experiment.  While  the  in- 
vestigations are  carried  on  by  the  experts  of  the  Station,  still  there 
is  abundant  opportunity  to  make  real  use  of  student  help  in  many 
tests  and  computations.  The  chance  to  participate  in  many  of  the 
tests  is  appreciated  and  eagerly  sought  by  the  students.  They  are 
interested  in  the  direct  application  of  theoretical  principles  to  the 
solution  of  practical,  every  day  engineering  problems.  This  illus- 
trates the  old  pedagogical  principle  that  when  students  are  per- 
mitted to  take  part  in  real  activities,  they  are  more  alert,  interested 
and  accurate  than  when  merely  carrying  on  exercise  tests. 

Some  institutions  have  recently  dropped  the  thesis  requirement. 
This  appears  to  be  an  unfortunate  move.  It  has  probably  been 
caused  by  large  classes  and  insufficient  help  and  facilities.  In  the 
work  of  this  Station  many  subjects  relating  to  researches  in  progress 
are  capable  of  preliminary  investigations  as  thesis  work,  and  stu- 
dents pursue  this  work  with  unusual  care  and  attention.  Students 
are  also  greatly  benefited  by  conferences  with  and  lectures  by  our 
special  investigators  who  are  always  in  readiness  to  advise  students 
along  the  line  of  their  particular  problems. 

Encouragement  and  aid  are  freely  given  to  members  of  the  in- 
structional force  who  desire  to  take  up  some  line  of  research.  In 
this  way  much  excellent  work  is  done  which  necessarily  reacts  on 


Brcckcnridiic — linf^inccriHi:  li.i  (wrimcnt  Station  88 

the  quality  of  class  instruction,  and  at  the  same  time  i)r()ves  a  source 
of  development  and  hroadeninj^.  This  work  serves  to  keep  us  all  in 
close  touch  with  outside  enjTi'ineerin^  interests  and  practical  every 
day  problems  in  the  industrial  world.  While  our  bulletins  record 
mostly  the  results  of  the  Station's  own  staff  of  investifj^ators,  there 
is  also  the  publication  of  circulars,  .C^ivini^  compilations  of  the  re- 
sults of  imi)ortant  experiments  by  enp^ineers,  industrial  works,  tech- 
nical institutions  and  c^overnmental  testine^  departments.  This  o])ens 
up  opportunities  for  our  instructors  who  can  not  undertake  purely 
experimental  work. 

Each  head  of  a  department  in  the  College  of  Engineering,  being 
an  active  member  of  the  Station  Staff,  is  constantly  on  the  alert  to 
detect  the  possibilities  of  important  lines  of  work  and  also  to  study 
the  adaptation  of  certain  men  to  certain  lines  of  work  and  to  the 
possibility  of  developing  investigators  from  our  present  body  of 
students  and  instructional  force.  While  it  may  be  true  that  the 
genuine  investigator  and  experimenter,  like  the  poet,  is  born  and  not 
made,  still  much  may  be  done  to  develop  the  spirit  of  investigation. 
This  in  itself  is  always  an  element  of  true  teaching  and  the  awaken- 
ing of  a  more  general  spirit  of  investigation  would  undoubtedly  be 
an  element  of  strength  in  all  our  educational  work. 

Research  Fellowships. 

The  facilities  of  the  Station  for  research  have  made  it  possible  to 
do  real  graduate  work,  and  the  action  of  the  trustees  in  providing 
for  ten  research  fellowships  in  the  College  of  Engineering  of  an 
annual  value  of  $500  will  be  a  distinct  gain  to  advanced  engineering 
education.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  Graduate  School  of  the  Univer- 
sity is  also  proving  most  helpful  to  the  interests  of  the  Engineering 
Experiment  Station  and  an  increasing  number  of  scholarships  and 
fellowships  in  this  department  is  to  be  expected. 

Future  Work  of  the  Station. 

In  determining  the  character  of  the  work  which  the  Station  shall 
undertake,  the  most  careful  consideration  must  be  given  first  to  the 
needs  and  the  interests  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  Fortunately  Illinois 
is  singularly  favored  in  all  the  conditions  requisite  for  a  rapid  and 
permanent  industrial  development,  and  its  interests  cover  very  wide 
fields  of  engineering  activity.  In  view  of  its  cheap  and  abundant 
fuel,  its  great  agricultural  v^ealth  and  its  unexcelled  facilities  for  the 
transportation  of  raw  material  and  finished  products,  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  IlHnois  is  the  second  state  in  the  union  in  agriculture 
and  third  in  manufactures.  With  these  great  resources  devolves 
upon  us  great  responsibility  in  developing  and  husbanding  them. 
The  testing  of  its  materials  of  construction  will  always  be  a  matter 
of  importance  for  any  state.     The  prevention  of  the  waste  of  ma- 


34  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

lerial  growing  more  and  more  expensive,  as  wood,  and  the  correct 
factors  of  strength  of  new  materials,  as  concrete,  are  always  sub- 
jects for  the  most  careful  investigation.  To  this  work  we  are  giv- 
ing considerable  attention,  and  the  demand  for  the  results  of  our 
tests  on  reinforced  concrete  which  are  being  carried  on  under  the 
supervision  of  Professor  A.  N.  Talbot  indicates  the  interest  which  is 
taken  in  this  work  and  the  necessity  felt  by  architects,  constructors 
and  builders  for  the  most  exact  information  along  these  lines. 

The  work  of  the  Station  will  also  extend  into  some  fresh  fields, 
seeking  to  discover  new  ways  and  means  for  economizing  energy 
and  materials,  for  the  prevention  of  waste,  for  the  protection  of 
labor-saving  machinery,  for  safer  methods  of  travel,  and  for  surer 
sanitary  methods  of  water  supply  and  sewage  disposal. 

Fuel  supply  is  of  such  prime  importance  in  our  industrial  de- 
velopment that  no  effort  should  be  spared  in  the  introduction  and 
promulgation  of  improved  methods  and  processes  in  the  mining, 
preparation  and  consumption  of  coal.  From  broad  economical  con- 
siderations wasteful  methods  of  using  coal,  or  the  rejection  of  any 
combustile  part  as  waste,  are  to  be  discountenanced.  Exhaustive 
and  careful  experiments  will  be  required  before  the  best  conditions 
can  be  attained.  These  experiments  must  include  analyses  of  coals 
from  all  parts  of  the  state,  a  determination  of  the  best  kinds  of  coal 
for  specific  purposes,  best  methods  of  burning  Illinois  coals,  effects 
of  various  methods  of  preparation,  experiments  on  various  kinds 
of  furnace  construction,  etc. 

Along  the  line  of  power  production  there  is  opportunity  for  much 
investigation.  New  problems  are  confronting  both  the  builders  and 
users  of  steam  and  gas  motors.  There  is  at  present  a  noteworthy 
change  from  the  reciprocating  engine  of  large  size  to  the  steam 
turbine.  Gas  engines  of  large  power  have  recently  been  installed, 
and  the  development  of  this  type  of  motor  bids  fair  to  be  more  rapid 
in  the  near  future.  Still  newer  types  of  motors  are  being  proposed 
from  time  to  time,  the  gas  turbine  being  one  that  at  present  occupies 
much  attention  as  an  attractive  possibility. 

For  the  user  of  power,  the  Station  can  investigate  questions  rela- 
tive to  the  economy  of  various  types  of  power  installations  with 
given  conditions  of  service.  For  the  builders  of  motors  it  can  in- 
vestigate the  new  and  perplexing  problems  that  have  arisen.  The 
properties  of  the  various  fluids  used  in  heat  motors  need  careful 
study.  Superheated  steam  is  essential  to  the  proper  working  of  a 
steam  turbine,  yet  many  of  its  properties  remain  to  be  investigated. 
The  properties  of  ammonia  and  other  fluids  used  in  refrigeration 
are  not  known  accurately,  and  even  the  properties  of  saturated  steam 
are  based  on  Regnault's  experiments  made  nearly  seventy  years  ago. 
A  careful  investigation  of  the  properties  of  heat  media  of  all  kinds, 
extending  if  necessary  over  a  series  of  years,  would  furnish  data 
of  the  greatest  value  to  engineers,  and  would  in  addition  be  a  note- 
worthy contribution  to  science. 


Breckcnrid^c     IiHfiint'frm^  H.\  (Hnincnt  Station  85 

Considerable  work  for  the  railroad  interests  has  already  l)cen  done 
by  the  railway  engineering^  department  of  the  university.  This 
department  owns  jointly  with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  a 
dynamometer  car  equipped  for  steam  road  experimental  work. 
With  this  car  have  been  made  numerous  road  tests  for  the  establish- 
ment of  tonnage  ratings.  The  department  also  owns  a  200  11. P. 
electric  car  of  the  interurban  type,  especially  designed  and  thor- 
oughly equipped  for  electric  traction  work.  Railway  work  with  both 
these  cars  will  be  prosecuted  vigorously  under  the  direction  of  the 
new  school  of  railway  engineering  and  administration  recently  or- 
ganized. 

It  is  expected  that  the  Experiment  Station  will  prove  helpful  to 
the  manufacturing  and  building  interests.  In  the  first  place,  it  will 
supply  accurate  data  regarding  the  properties  of  the  materials  used 
in  engineering  structures  and  buildings.  The  laboratory  of  applied 
mechanics  with  its  extensive  field  needs  much  greater  facilities  for 
this  line  of  work,  as  the  reinforced  concrete  tests  now  in  progress 
show  great  possibilities.  In  the  near  future,  an  extensive  series  of 
tests  on  cast-iron  columns,  and  on  various  forms  of  steel  and  iron 
members  is  contemplated.  Secondly,  the  Experiment  Station  will 
investigate  manufacturing  processes.  As  an  example  of  this  kind 
of  work  the  high-speed  steel  tests  are  cited.  Thirdly,  problems  re- 
lating to  design  and  construction  will  be  studied,  and  all  useful  re- 
sults will  be  published  for  the  benefit  of  those  engaged  in  design 
or  construction. 

As  a  rule  the  Experiment  Station  will  undertake  only  such  in- 
vestigations as  will  lead  to  results  of  fundamental  importance,  re- 
sults that  will  be  helpful  to  a  large  class  of  engineers  or  manufac- 
turers. It  will  not,  in  general,  undertake  work  of  importance  to 
individuals  only,  e.  g.,  the  testing  of  a  device  or  invention  for  the 
sole  benefit  of  the  inventor. 

The  Station  is  now  planning  to  make  a  more  systematic  study  of 
the  industrial  and  engineering  interests  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  more 
particularly  with  the  thought  in  mind  that  these  industries  should  be 
advised  as  to  the  work  already  accomplished  by  the  Station,  and  also 
that  more  exact  knowledge  may  be  obtained  concerning  the  needs 
of  the  various  industrial  interests  throughout  the  state. 

Professor  Kenneth  G.  Smith  in  the  capacity  of  Industrial  Visitor, 
has  during  the  year,  visited  the  manufacturing  centers  of  Illinois 
in  order  to  become  acquainted  with  the  problems  confronting  these 
various  interests  so  that  such  fundamental  problems  as  afifect  a  large 
number  of  our  industries  can  be  taken  up  and  such  study  of  these 
problems  made  as  facilities  and  funds  permit. 

There  are  at  present,  as  already  pointed  out,  fully  fifty  persons 
doing  some  work  for  the  Station ;  of  this  number  only  twenty  are 
devoting  all  of  their  time  to  the  station  work,  the  remainder  giving 
but  a  part  of  their  time  to  its  interests.  There  are  now  (May,  1909) 
in  progress  nearly  sixty  different  investigations  which  could  doubt- 


36  Brcckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

less  be  grouped  under  ten  general  heads.  There  are  now  fully  one 
hundred  available  investigations  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  be 
started  and  for  funds  for  carrying  them  forward,  as  soon  as  a 
preliminary  survey  proves  them  to  be  worthy.  There  will  always 
be,  for  a  station  like  Illinois,  a  continually  increasing  need  of  such 
investigations  as  are  planned  to  be  made  by  the  Engineering  Ex- 
periment Station.  The  Station  is  growing  to  be  for  the  State  a  Pub- 
lic Service  Research  Laboratory  in  the  realm  of  industrial  science 
just  as  it  was  originally  intended  it  should  be,  and  the  results  of  its 
experiments  will  surely  add  to  the  wealth  of  the  State,  to  the  pros- 
perity of  the  industries  and  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  its  people. 
There  will  always  be  fundamental  problems  of  economic  importance 
underlying  the  advancement  of  the  industrial  interests  of  this  State. 
The  Engineering  Experiment  Station  should  be  ready  to  assist  in  the 
solution  of  the  problems  in  the  field  of  engineering  research.  Of 
fundamental  importance  are  such  problems  as  are  indicated  by  the 
following  list : — 

1.  The  determination  of  the  strength  of  materials  used  in  con- 
structive engineering  work.    A  very  large  and  important  field. 

2.  A  study  of  the  properties  and  strength  of  fabricated  articles, 
such  as  bridges  and  frame  work  of  important  engineering  machines 
and  structures. 

3.  A  study  of  the  development,  safety  and  economical  use  of  the 
machinery  and  appliances  used  in  mining  operations. 

4.  A  study  of  the  problems  relating  to  the  economic  transporta- 
tion of  passengers  and  materials  by  rail  (steam  and  electricity)  by 
water  and  by  air. 

5.  A  study  of  the  economic  construction  and  maintenance  of 
roads. 

6.  A  study  of  municipal  water  supply  and  sewage  disposal  as 
aflPecting  public  health. 

7.  A  study  of  the  best  methods  of  using  economically  the  fuels 
of  the  state,  not  only  for  the  production  of  power,  but  for  the  heat- 
ing of  buildings,  metallurgical  purposes,  etc. 

8.  Use  of  Illinois  coal  in  the  gas-producer. 

9.  Economic  production  and  use  of  steam. 

10.  Utilization  of  oil  products  for  economical  and  industrial 
purposes. 

11.  A  study  of  the  development  and  economic  production  of 
manufactured  products.    A  very  large  field  and  rich  in  problems. 

12.  A  study  of  the  generation,  transmission  and  utilization  of 
electrical  energy,  including  economic  and  satisfactory  methods  of 
telegraphy  and  telephony. 

With  such  a  program  it  is  plain  that  the  work  of  the  Engineering 
Experiment  Station  can  not  end  so  long  as  the  industries  of  the  State 
are  to  progress  and  develop,  so  long  as  the  fuel  problems  of  the  State 
continue  to  play  such  a  prominent  part  in  industrial  and  in  domestic 
use,  so  long  as  transportation  by  steam,  by  electricity  and  by  water 


Breckvn>idt:e     linnincvrinn  Exptrumnt  Station  37 

conliiuR's  to  cxpaiul,  or  so  long  as  a  knowledge  of  the  strength  of 
materials  continue  to  play,  as  it  always  will,  such  a  vital  part  in  the 
construction  of  engineering  works,  the  erection  of  state  and  private 
huildings,  and  the  design  and  construction  of  all  manner  and  kinds 
of  manufactured  products  which  our  complex  civilization  now  de- 
mands. 

Perhaps  the  slow  growth  of  the  Station  will,  in  the  end,  he  most 
satisfactory,  hut  many  problems  are  now  waiting  for  help  and  much 
that  is  new  to  Illinois  interests  should  be  given  prompt  attention  so 
that  every  advantage  may  accrue  to  its  welfare.  "A  stitch  in  time 
saves  nine"  applies  forcefully  to  scientific  research.  A  knowledge 
of  facts  saves  much  waste. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer, 

(i)  that  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  is  now  prepared 
to  wisely  and  economically  expend  on  engineering  investigations 
$100,000  annually; 

(2)  that  provision  for  this  amount  ought  soon  to  be  made,  and 

(3)  that  when  this  amount  has  been  wisely  spent,  provision 
for  future  funds  will  be  forthcoming.  The  greatest  single  need  of 
the  Experiment  Station  at  present  is  for  a  new  Materials  Testing 
Laboratory.  A  laboratory  suitable  for  this  important  part  of  the 
work  of  the  Station  would  cost,  with  its  equipment,  $250,000.00. 
The  State  should  be  asked  to  provide  such  a  building ;  the  work  to 
be  done  in  it  would  more  than  repay  its  cost  to  the  State  in  four 
years.  The  College  of  Engineering  and  the  Engineering  Experi- 
ment Station  have  always  received  the  substantial  support  and  ap- 
proval of  the  members  of  this  Society.  It  has  appreciated  this  sup- 
port and  has  endeavored  to  merit  it.  It  is  the  hope  of  the  writer 
that  this  strong  engineering  society  will  feel  justified  in  taking  a 
still  greater  interest  in  the  engineering  work  of  the  State  University. 
Why  should  not  our  various  organized  engineering,  manufacturing 
and  mining  interests  in  this  State  support,  back  up  and  push  for- 
ward the  work  of  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  in  just  the 
same  way  and  for  the  same  reason  that  the  various  agricultural  in- 
terests support  the  interests  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station? 
The  relation  of  the  engineer  and  the  relation  of  the  Engineering 
Society  to  the  public  are  well  worth  the  careful  thought  of  all  of  us. 
If  the  public  is  to  be  educated  along  engineering  lines,  it  is  the 
engineer  who  must  do  it.  Let  the  Western  Society  of  Engineers  do 
its  share  in  this  work  and  let  it  do  its  share  without  waiting  for 
some  other  organization  to  point  the  way. 

Relation  of  the  Station  to  the  Industries. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
industries  of  the  State  of  Illinois  have  been  truly  marvelous.  The 
work  which  the  Eng-ineering  Experiment  Station  has  accomplished, 
has  new  in  progress  or  has  in  contemplation  for  the  future,  has  been 
briefly  reviewed.     It  will  be  seen  that  some  work  of  the  Station 


38  Breckcnridge — En^iineenng  Experiment  Station 

will  be  helpful  to  all  industries,  that  other  work  will  be  helpful  to 
special  industries  and  still  other  work  will  be  of  significant  value  to 
each  and  every  home. 

The  continually  increasing  cost  of  lumber  during  recent  years 
has  emphasized  the  necessity  of  finding  some  material  to  take  its 
place.  Concrete  is  rapidly  doing  this.  Everywhere  we  see  this 
material  entering  into  all  sorts  of  structures.  Its  use  is  becoming 
universal.  It  is  easily  transported  and  handled.  The  desired  mix- 
ture of  cement,  stone  and  sand  can  be  prepared  by  machinery  and 
unskilled  labor.  Combined  with  suitably  located  steel  bars  it  is 
cheaper,  stronger  and  more  fire  resisting  than  wood.  The  cement 
industry  of  the  country  has  made  the  most  rapid  growth  of  any  of 
our  new  American  industries.  It  is  extremely  important  that  engi- 
neers, architects,  and  builders  should  know  definitely  and  accurately 
concerning  the  strength  and  other  physical  properties  of  reinforced 
concrete  in  all  its  many  and  varied  forms,  mixtures  and  mechanical 
treatments.  This  information  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station 
has  been  endeavoring  to  supply,  and  with,  we  believe,  much  success. 
Eleven  bulletins  of  the  thirty-six  published  have  referred  to  this 
subject.  The  first  step  was  the  installation  of  the  6oo,ooo-lb.  verti- 
cal testing  machine  arranged  for  testing  large  and  bulky  specimens ; 
then  came  the  planning  of  the  work,  the  making  of  the  tests ;.  then 
the  labor  of  computations  and  finally  the  interpretation  of  the  results 
and  the  publication  of  these  results  and  the  conclusions  to  be  drawn 
from  them.  The  last  of  these  steps  is  of  most  vital  importance.  To 
do  all  of  these  things  well  is  no  insignificant  task ;  but  they  must  be 
done  and  those  engineers  who  do  not  know  what  the  results  of 
such  tests  signify  will  either  use  materials  wastefully  or  will  design 
structures  that  will  be  temporary  and  unsafe.  Such  work  as  this 
can  not  fail  to  be  far  reaching  and  of  large  economic  importance 
to  all  the  engineering  and  industrial  interests  of  the  State.  In  the 
same  way  the  tests  of  Illinois  fuels  which  have  been  in  progress  for 
four  years  are  of  special  value  and  interest  to  every  manufacturer, 
every  railroad  company,  every  power  plant  both  private  and  munici- 
pal and  to  every  home  in  the  State.  They  are  equally  valuable  to 
the  mining  interests  of  the  State.  The  examination  and  tests  of  Illi- 
nois coals  have  been  carried  forward  by  several  cooperating  de- 
partments ; 

(a)  The  Technologic  Branch  of  the  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey. 

(b)  The  State  Geological  Survey. 

(c)  The  Chemical  Department  of  the  College  of  Science. 

(d)  The  Graduate  ^School  and 

(e)  The  Engineering  Experiment  Station  and  all  aided  by  the 
special  Conference  Committee  on  Fuel  Tests, — composed  of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Western  Society  of  Engineers ;  Western  Railway 
Club ;  Illinois  Manufacturers'  Association ;  Coal  Operators'  Associa- 
tion ;  State  Electric  Light  Association ;  and  the  Building  Managers' 
Association  of  Chicago.    Seven  bulletins  of  the  Station  have  related 


Brt-ikunnii:^i-     l.n^uucrm^  lixfH'nmcnt  Station  89 

to  this  important  work.  Tlic  coinpusition,  tlic  licatini^  value  and 
the  physical  nature  of  lUinois  coals  have  been  most  carefully  studied 
and  set  forth  as  the  result  of  the  work  carried  on  under  the  direction 
of  Professor  S.  W.  Parr,  and  his  work  will  continue  to  be  of  in- 
creasing value  as  time  goes  on.  The  experiments  by  the  exj)erts 
of  the  Station  concerning  the  burning  of  Illinois  coals  under  jjower 
plant  boilers,  and  in  furnaces  designed  to  allow  perfect  combustion 
and  smokelessness  have  done  much  to  make  Illinois  coals  worth 
more  in  our  own  and  in  neighboring  states,  especially  those  states 
north  and  west  of  Illinois.  A  knowledge  of  the  comparative  ex- 
pense of  burning  briquetted  fuel,  coke,  hard  coal,  Virginia,  Ohio 
and  Illinois  coals  in  different  types  of  residence  heating  furnaces 
and  boilers  can  not  help  but  be  of  value  to  every  home  in  the  State. 
The  bulletin  of  Dr.  J.  K.  Clement,  on  the  "Rate  of  Formation  of 
Carbon  Monoxide  in  Gas  Producers"  is  a  work  of  exceptional  merit 
and  is  a  first  step  in  aiding  the  problem  of  Illinois  coal  as  a  suitable 
fuel  for  large  gas  producers.  The  coal  produced  by  Illinois  has  an 
annual  value  of  $55,000,000,  a  still  larger  amount  is  doubtless  con- 
sumed by  Illinois  industries ;  the  writer  would  welcome  figures  on 
this  subject.  If  the  economies  pointed  out  as  possible  by  the  Station 
were  carried  out,  and  in  many  cases  they  have  been,  at  least  5%  of 
the  coal  consumed  by  the  State  could  be  saved. 

What  is  true  of  the  Experiment  Station's  work  and  tests  of  con- 
crete and  fuel,  is  equally  true  of  its  other  lines  of  work,  but  thus 
far  more  time  and  money  have  been  devoted  to  these  two  lines  of 
work  than  to  others.  More  need  not  be  said  to  convince  the  engineer 
or  the  members  of  this  Society,  that  the  work  of  an  Engineering 
Experiment  Station  may  be  as  helpful  to  the  progress  of  industrial 
Illinois  as  the  work  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  has 
been  and  is  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State.  It  will,  per- 
haps, take  more  time  to  educate  the  general  public  to  understand 
the  possibilities  for  good  which  might  easily  result  from  a  more 
generous  support  of  such  a  station.  It  will  be  for  such  societies 
as  this  to  demand  of  the  Station,  such  service  as  it  should  reason- 
ably be  expected  to  furnish,  at  the  same  time  urging  such  generous 
support  by  the  State  for  its  work,  as  the  results  of  its  past  investi- 
gations seem  to  justify  or  the  possibilities  of  the  future  seem  to 
promise.  There  are  many  investigations  which  must  be  made,  they 
are  vital  to  industrial  progress.  Many  of  these  investigations  can 
be  better  made  by  such  a  station  as  the  one  we  are  now  describing 
than  by  any  other  agency.  They  can  be  made  for  less  money.  They 
can  be  made  by  scientific  methods.  While  they  are  being  made  they 
will  help  develop  the  type  of  man  needed  by  our  industries  for  the 
more  special  investigations  of  the  individual  or  the  more  highly 
specialized  industry.  Several  foreign  nations  have  agencies  similar 
to  this  to  make  their  fundamental  industrial  investigations.  Are 
not  the  future  interests  of  the  State  of  Illinois  of  such  im- 
portance as  to  demand  the  substantial  development  and  extension  of 


40  Breckenridge — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

the  work  now  started  by  its  Engineering  Experiment  Station  and 
should  not  the  engineers  and  the  manufacturers  themselves  organize 
to  cooperate  with  the  Station  in  guiding,  in  protecting  and  in  ad- 
vancing the  researches  of  the  Station  in  a  way  that  will  serve  the 
best  interests  of  this  great  industrial  State? 

What  Will  an  Engineering  Experiment  Station  Cost? 
The  Illinois  Enginering  Experiment  Station  has  been  in  active 
operation  for  four  years.  When  it  was  first  started  it  was  a  matter 
of  some  doubt  about  the  wisdom  of  some  of  its  tests.  Funds  were 
available  in  excess  of  the  pressing  needs.  This  was  fortunate  be- 
cause some  expensive  equipment  was  necessary  to  carry  out  the 
plans  of  the  future.  This  equipment  was  purchased.  As  soon  as 
the  bulletins  of  the  Station  began  to  appear  and  engineers  and  manu- 
facturers became  acquainted  with  the  work  and  the  objects  of  the 
Station,  we  began  to  receive  requests  for  tests  far  beyond  the  capac- 
ity of  the  Station.  At  the  present  time  it  is  absolutely  impossible 
to  take  up  one  quarter  of  the  work  which  comes  to  us  for  investiga- 
tion. It  has  always  been  the  policy  of  the  Station  not  to  do  any 
work  for  pay.  The  reason  for  this  is  evident.  We  refer  many  in- 
quiries to  the  proper  commercial  parties.  We  are  not  running  a 
consulting  office.  The  work  we  do  must  be  of  general  interest  to  a 
large  number  of  citizens.  Some  work  may,  nevertheless,  be  of  spe- 
cial interest  to  certain  groups  of  engineers  or  manufacturers.  Young 
industries  sometimes  need  preliminary  help;  it  is  good  State  policy 
to  help  them. 

The  expenses  of  the  Experiment  Station  for  the  past  four  years 
have  been  as  indicated  below: — 

Expenses  of  Engineering  Experiment  Station 

1903-4  

1904-5  $  25,000 

1905-6  . 25,000 

1906-7  30,000 

1907-8 33.000 

1908-9  37.000 

Total    $150,000 

It  would  have  cost  three  times  this  amount  to  have  done  this  work 
if  it  had  been  done  independently  of  the  educational  work  of  the 
College  of  Engineering.  It  is  clear  to  the  writer  that  the  Station 
has  demonstrated  its  ability  to  organize,  plan,  execute  and  publish 
work  of  great  value  to  the  State.  It  can  be  trusted  with  much 
greater  work  and  it  will  be  better  done  in  the  light  of  past  experience 
and  better  facilities.  The  problems  in  hand  and  before  it  far  solu- 
tion involve  expense.  Some  problems  must  extend  over  several 
years  in  time.  Three  quarters  of  all  the  problems  which  the  Station 
will  investigate  will  relate  to  the  conservation  of  the  resources  of  the 


Brcckcnridge — Enaineciitifi  Experiment  Station 


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42  Discussion — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

State  and  Nation.    Where  else  shall  the  State  go  for  aid  in  solving 
such  problems  as  have  been  outlined  in  this  paper  ? 

Reference  has  several  times  been  made  to  the  extensive  and  valu- 
able work  which  is  being  done  for  the  State  of  Illinois  by  its  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station.  This  Station  receives  funds  from  the 
Federal  Government  for  aiding  its  work,  but  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  its  funds  is  appropriated  by  the  State.  It  is  asking  the  legis- 
lature this  year,  for  its  use  during  the  next  two  years,  the  amounts 
indicated  in  Table  3  below : — 

Legislative  Askings  for  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

1909-1911 

1  The  College  $140,000 

2  Live  stock  investigation   140,000 

3  Soils    200,000 

4  Crops    60,000 

5  Horticulture    80,000 

6  Dairy   102,300 

7  Floriculture    35,ooo 

Total    $757,300 

In  addition  to  this  amount  for  operating  expenses,  it  is  asking 
for  buildings,  $162,500. 

The  funds  appropriated  to  the  University  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment— a  part  of  which  are  for  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
work — are  set  forth  in  Table  4.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  work  of 
the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  should  have  been  important 
and  its  researches  extensive?  No  one  doubts  the  wisdom  of  the 
expenditures  and  every  one  praises  the  results  of  its  work. 

The  Engineering  Experiment  Station  is  now  ready  to  do  great 
things  for  the  industries  of  the  State.  It  will  cost  more  money  than 
has  yet  been  appropriated  if  greater  things  are  to  be  accomplished. 

The  writer  believes  that  the  industries  can  afford  an  extension  of 
the  work  of  its  Engineering  Experiment  Station  and  that  it  will 
pay  to  make  such  extension. 

Discussion. 

President  Allen:  First  let  me  thank  Prof.  Breckenridge,  on  be- 
half of  the  Western  Society  of  Engineers,  for  his  most  timely  and 
interesting  address.  Our  Society  should  be  in  the  closest  possible 
touch  with  the  great  engineering  schools  of  the  West,  and  such 
evenings  as  this  are  most  important  in  establishing  and  maintain- 
ing such  relations,- 

It  is  the  American  idea,  and  preeminently  the  western  idea,  that 
the  education  of  the  people  is  a  function  of  the  State.  To  this  end 
the  State  provides  its  schools,  leading  from  the  common  school  up 


Disi  ussh>n     l:n^ini-triii^  J:.\funnuiil  Maticn  48 

to  the  University,  c()ini)elliiii;  everyone  to  take  the  rn(hnients  of 
education,  ami  otVering  tlie  very  hi,i;hest  facihties  for  advanced  edu- 
cation to  those  who  choose  and  are  able  to  avail  themselves  of  them. 
In  this  way  the  State  itself  and  the  whole  people  of  the  State  come 
into  a  very  intimate  connection  with  the  State  educational  system, 
and  with  the  State  LIniversity  ;  on  the  one  hand  supi)orlin^-  it  by 
general  taxation,  and  on  the  other  hand  entrustinj^-  to  it  the  education 
of  their  youth,  and  the  Western  Idea  lookin^;]^  to  it  for  instruction, 
advice  and  helj)  in  building  up  the  industries  of  the  vState. 

In  Illinois — one  of  the  greatest  manufacturing  and  industrial 
states  of  the  Union — our  State  University  at  Urbana  is  a  splendid 
testimonial  to  the  progress  of  this  idea  of  mutual  aid  and  coopera- 
tion. We  all  know  the  crying  need  of  scientific  development ;  how 
few  things  in  the  engineering  world  are  done  as  well  as  they  might 
be  done,  and  how  few  people  are  trained,  and  have  data  at  hand,  to 
do  things  in  a  scientific  and  systematic  way.  The  work  of  the  En- 
gineering Experiment  Station,  as  described  by  Prof  Breckenridge, 
is  going  to  fill  a  big  place  in  the  development  of  our  State.  It  is 
certainly  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  A  great  work  has  been  done 
already,  and  the  possibilities  for  the  future  are  almost  limitless.  The 
work  should  concern  and  interest  every  citizen  of  the  State. 

The  paper  is  now  open  for  discussion,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  our 
State  University  as  well  represented  here  this  evening.  We  would 
like  very  much  to  hear  from  Dr.  Goss,  Dean  of  the  Illinois  College 
of  Engineering. 

Dr.  W.  F.  M.  Goss,  m.w.s.e.  :  I  know,  Mr.  President,  that  you, 
as  well  as  all  members  present,  will  agree  with  me,  when  I  say  that 
we  are  indebted  to  Prof.  Breckenridge  in  a  two- fold  way  tonight. 
We  are  certainly  indebted  to  him  for  presenting  in  such  a  clear, 
logical  and  strong  way  this  story  of  the  problems  and  work  of  the 
Illinois  Engineering  Experiment  Station,  which,  when  published 
in  our  Journal,  will  put  before  the  engineering  public  a  great  work 
and  one  w^hich  is  at  present  somewhat  peculiar  to  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois, so  far  as  it  is  a  work  which  proceeds  under  state  auspices.  As 
yet  no  other  state  institution  has  a  regularly  organized  Engineering 
Experiment  Station  proceeding  in  connection  with  its  engineering 
college. 

The  second  thing  for  which  we  as  members  of  this  Society,  and 
as  engineers  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  may  feel  indebted  to  Prof. 
Breckenridge,  is  the  larger  fact  that  it  has  been  through  his  en- 
thusiastic efforts  that  this  Engineering  Experiment  Station  has  been 
established  and  brought  to  its  present  high  state  of  efficiency.  I 
think  we  may  all  be  proud  that  we  are  members  of  a  society  in  a 
state  where  so  much  has  been  accomplished  for  the  advancement  of 
scientific  information  for  the  benefit  of  engineers,  and  that  we  have 
with  us  tonight  the  man  who  has  laid  the  foundations,  aided  in  se- 
curing financial  support,  and  put  the  station  in  a  fine  state  of 
development. 


44  Discussion — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

These  are  two  things  for  which  we  should  feel  especially  grateful 
to  the  speaker  tonight. 

On  my  own  behalf  and  the  College  of  Engineering  of  the  State 
of  Illinpis,  I  want  to  say  that  since  Prof.  Breckenridge  is  to  leave 
us,  and  is  to  sever  his  connection  with  this  State,  there  rests  upon 
every  one  who  is  interested  in  the  progress  of  engineering  education 
and  the  introduction  of  scientific  research,  a  new  responsibility.  The 
work  he  has  carried  on  so  well  must  be  taken  up  by  others,  and  it 
will  require  the  reinforcement  of  interest  on  the  part  of  everybody 
in  the  state  who  naturally  should  be  interested  in  that  work,  in  order 
that  it  may  not  fall  below  the  high  expectations  Prof.  Breckenridge 
has  had  for  it.  I  take  it  that  while  we  may  have  other  desires  and 
purposes,  yet  it  will  not  be  a  fitting  ambition  on  our  part  if  we  do 
not  render  all  the  assistance  we  can  in  this  matter;  we  want  the 
work  carried  on  as  Prof.  Breckenridge  wishes  it  to  go  on.  That  I 
think  would  be  a  high  idea  for  the  existence  of  this  Station,  but  of 
course  there  are  others  reasons  than  that.  I  am  sure  the  engineers 
generally  feel  a  great  pride  in  the  work  which  has  been  already  ac- 
complished by  the  Experiment  Station.  Most  of  them  know  of  that 
work  and  many  have  had  a  part  in  it,  and  I  do  not  need  to  urge  the 
members  of  this  Society  to  do  what  can  be  done  to  sustain  and 
foster  the  College  of  Engineering.  Now  we  are  reaching  the  time 
when  we  shall  have  to  call  on  our  friends,  when  we  shall  have  to 
urge  our  friends  to  think  of  the  needs  of  the  College  of  Engineer- 
ing and  the  Experiment  Station,  in  order  that  we  may  go  on  to  new 
standards  and  greater  prominence.  It  is  true  that  we  have  a  great 
college  and  we  are  doing  our  w^ork,  but  it  is  also  true  that  our 
facilities  are  far  below  the  facilities  which  ought  to  be  available  in 
this  state,  for  the  work  which  ought  to  be  done.  Those  of  us  who 
stand  in  the  place  of  Prof.  Breckenridge  will  wish  to  lean  heavily, 
frequently,  on  the  clientage  of  the  college,  its  graduates,  its  friends, 
and  the  engineers  of  the  state,  for  encouragement  and  support.  I 
cannot  refrain  from  saying,  just  at  this  moment,  after  listening  to 
this  excellent  address,  that  a  beginning  has  been  made,  arid  the 
time  is  coming  when,  in  place  of  efforts  which  have  been  made,  we 
must  put  forth  renewed  efiforts  greater  than  anything  which  has 
yet  been  done. 

Mr.  W.  L.  Abbott,  m.w.s.e.  :  The  talk  this  evening  has  centered 
principally  around  the  campus  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  al- 
though there  are  many  here  tonight  who  owe  allegiance  to  other 
colors  and  other  engineering  colleges,  I  know  that  each  one  feels  a 
pride  in  the  work  which  the  engineering  colleges  of  this  day,  in 
common  with  Illinois,  are  doing  in  the  work  of  investigations. 

One  of  the  principal  things  which  engages  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Illinois  is  robbing  neighboring  institutions  .  of  their  shining 
lights, — for  instance,  President  James  was  secured  from  North- 
western University,  and  Dean  Goss  from  Purdue  University,  and 
so  on  down  the  line.     But  we  have  cause  to  regret  that  while  we 


l)isiussu>tilinninct-nn)i  l'..\pi'ri)ncnt  Statioti  46 

were  away  on  one  ul  our  foraging  exj^cditions  aiuHlicr  institution 
came  along  and  took  one  of  our  best  men. 

One  would  think,  after  contemplating  the  department  that  i'rof. 
Breckenridge  has  built  up  in  the  past  few  years,  that  he  would  be 
content  to  stay  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  labor,  but  apparently  he  is 
possessed  of  that  wanderlust  which  is  characteristic  of  the  Metho- 
dist minister,  who,  after  having,  by  sacrifice  and  struggle,  built  a 
comfortable  church  in  which  he  could  stay  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
instead  of  doing  so  looks  for  "new  fields  to  conquer,"  and  moves 
on  again  to  a  churchless  parish.  So  Prof.  Breckenridge  is  going 
to  a  benighted  institution  where  he  thinks  the  gospel  is  needed  more 
than  it  is  in  Illinois.  He  is  going  to  show  the  people  of  the  East 
what  Western  civilization  and  Western  hustle  can  do.  He  says 
that  if  he  is  able,  he  will  develop  an  engineering  school  at  Sheffield, 
which  will  compare  wnth  that  at  Illinois,  but  in  case  he  is  not  able  to 
do  so,  he  will  settle  down  in  academic  repose  in  the  land  of  fried 
chicken  and  fresh  oysters. 

James  Lyman,  m.w.s.e.  :  After  the  remarks  of  the  last  speaker, 
I  think  it  is  incumbent  upon  me,  as  an  alumnus  of  Yale  and  a  fellow 
college  man  with  our  member  Prof.  Breckenridge,  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  great  universities  and  most  successful  colleges 
in  the  West  have  been  started  by  Yale  men.  Prof.  Breckenridge 
came  West  with  a  splendid  groundwork  in  educational  lines  and  the 
enthusiasm  and  spirit  of  Yale,  and  it  was  due  partly  to  that  and 
partly  to  the  fact  that  he  "hailed"  from  the  state  of  Connecticut 
(which,  although  one  of  the  smallest  states  in  area,  ranks  highest 
in  educational  lines),  that  he  has  made  such  a  record.  The  engi- 
neering department  at  Yale  is  a  purely  scientific  school,  and  the  en- 
gineering graduates  are  all  rejoicing  in  the  selection  of  Prof. 
Breckenridge  to  make  Sheffield  not  only  a  scientific  school,  but  one 
that  shall  minister  to  the  needs  of  the  great  industrial  enterprises  of 
New  England  and  all  the  East,  in  estabhshing  such  an  engineering 
department  as  he  has  created  for  the  state  of  Illinois.  What  is  loss 
to  the  State  of  Illinois  is  gain  to  Connecticut  and  Yale. 

Mr.  A.  Bement,  m.w.s.e.  (by  letter)  :  As  a  representative  of  the 
Western  Society  of  Engineers  on  the  Conference  Committee,  organ- 
ized for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  the  fuel  testing  work  of  the  Illi- 
nois Engineering  Experiment  Station,  I  wish  to  extend  my  hearty 
congratulations  to  Prof.  Breckenridge,  and  to  join  with  the  rest  of 
his  friends  in  wishing  him  the  fullest  measure  of  good  fortune  and 
success  in  his  new  position,  and  to  say  that  his  genial  presence  will 
be  missed. 

The  Engineering  Experiment  Stations  are  quite  a  new  institution, 
something  with  which  we  have  not  had  much  experience,  and  it 
has  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  probably  be  appropriate  to  offer 
some  suggestions  having  a  bearing  on  their  usefulness. 

I  think  it  would  be  desirable  to  have  some  form  of  organization 
among  different  stations,  so  that  each  may  know  what  character  of 


46  Discussion — Engineering  Experiment  Station 

research  is  being  conducted  by  the  others,  thus  avoiding  dupHcation 
of  work.  Also  that  broad  and  adequate  consideration  be  given  to 
the  experimental  work  which  may  be  undertaken,  because  it  is  no 
easy  matter  to  expend  to  the  best  advantage  appropriations  made  for 
such  work.  There  is  danger  that  the  things  selected  for  study  may 
appeal  only  to  the  official  in  charge,  and  that  his  viewpoint  may 
govern,  rather  than  that  of  the  requirements  of  the  public. 

Aside  from  the  conduct  of  research,  I  think  the  experiment  sta- 
tions have  an  opportunity  to  be  of  great  benefit  at  small  expense, 
by  assembling  together,  properly  editing  and  presenting  in  bulletins, 
results  secured  by  other  experimenters,  which  would  often  be  of  as 
great  advantage  as  work  that  the  experiment  station  might  itself 
conduct. 

President  Allen:  The  tide  has  been  running  for  sometime  from 
the  East  to  the  West;  now  we  have  the  return  tide,  and  Western 
business  men  are  called  to  high  executive  places  in  the  East ;  West- 
ern engineers  are  in  charge  of  many  of  the  most  important  engi- 
neering works  in  the  East,  and  now  Western  educators  are  going 
to  Eastern  Universities.  So  the  West  is  coming  into  its  own;  in- 
stead of  being  a  missionary  State  it  is  sending  its  own  missionaries 
abroad. 

And  now  let  us  wish  Prof.  Breckenridge  a  career  of  splendid  suc- 
cess in  the  East.  Our  best  wishes  go  with  him  to  his  new  responsi- 
bilities, and  he  will  always  find  a  warm  welcome  from  the  State  and 
its  citizens  to  whom  he  has  given  so  many  of  the  best  years  of  his 
life. 

Prof.  Breckenridge:  I  desire  to  thank  the  members  of  the  West- 
ern Society  of  Engineers  for  all  the  delightful  things  they  have  said 
to  me.  I  shall  always  remember  the  many  agreeable  things  that 
have  come  to  me  during  my  stay  in  the  West,  and  when  I  come  to 
Chicago,  it  is  needless  to  say  I  shall  always  call  on  the  Western 
Society  of  Engineers 

T  shall  also  greet  with  much  pleasure  members  of  this  society  that 
come  to  New  Haven  to  visit  Yale  or  to  see  me,  and  I  shall  always 
be  glad  to  have  any  of  you  hunt  me  up  and  let  me  have  the  pleasure 
of  showing  you  Yale  and  particularly  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School. 


3  0112  105630245 


